Identification and analysis of protein biomarkers

ABSTRACT

Protein biomarkers may be used to rapidly and accurately diagnose stroke. Biomarkers may be utilized in a rapid and inexpensive test that could be used at the bedside or ambulatory setting to definitively indicate the presence or absence of stroke and its severity. Such a test would quickly stratify patients in need of immediate stroke treatment from those who are not having a stroke. The test may aid emergency personnel in the decision for the most appropriate treatment plan and treatment location, thereby minimizing morbidity and mortality of stroke patients.

PRIORITY

The present patent application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/695,504, filed Jul. 9, 2018, entitled “IDENTIFICATION AND ANALYSIS OF PROTEIN BIOMARKERS,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The innovation relates to blood biomarkers that can be used to identify patients suffering from a stroke.

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a major worldwide public health concern, second only to heart disease as the leading cause of mortality. According to the American Heart Association's 2016 statistical update, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with a fatal stroke occurring approximately every 4 minutes. Stroke also is the leading cause of serious long-term disability, resulting in an annual direct cost of $17.2 billion in the United States alone. Given this high morbidity and its economic impact, numerous public health measures are underway to decrease the incidence of this preventable disease.

Although many of the gross effects of stroke are similar, stroke is considered a multifactorial disease due to the various mechanisms by which it develops. Stroke can result from blockage in a cerebral artery supplying brain tissue (ischemic stroke) or from a rupture of an artery with resulting extravasation of blood into the brain parenchyma or meningeal spaces (hemorrhagic stroke). In the case of transient ischemic attacks (TIA)—sometimes referred to as mini-strokes—there is a disruption of blood flow that does not cause an infarction and also self-resolves within 24 hours. Ischemic stroke accounts for 87% of all strokes and typically occurs when a blood clot occludes a vessel. During an ischemic stroke, approximately 1.9 million neurons and 14 billion synapses die every minute—the equivalent of aging 3.6 years each hour. The amount of time the brain experiences ischemic conditions therefore crucially influences patient outcome.

Reperfusion of the ischemic brain within the shortest time interval is a primary goal of emergency health care providers. Currently two treatment options are available for reperfusion of the ischemic, non-hemorrhagic, brain tissue: thrombolytic therapy and mechanical thrombectomy. Thrombolytic therapy dissolves the clot using a specific enzyme cocktail injected into the blood vessel near the site of the blockage. This ultimately results in the clot being digested by the enzyme. Conversely, during a thrombectomy procedure, the occluding blood clot is removed via an intravascular catheter positioned under fluoroscopic guidance. While the current gold standard of treatment for ischemic stroke is thrombolytic therapy using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), recent studies have shown equivalent outcomes for patients receiving thrombectomy. The caveat is that whichever treatment is used, it must be started within a short time span of symptom onset to achieve maximal effectiveness—currently 4.5 hours for tPA and 6-8 hours for mechanical thrombectomy.

The risk of morbidity and mortality following stroke decreases when earlier diagnosis and treatment are achieved. Stroke patients who present to the emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms experience less disability at 3 months compared to those who receive delayed care. Public education of symptom recognition and the need to promptly seek medical attention is aimed at increasing the number of patients who arrive at the hospital before significant brain damage has occurred. However, once patients seek medical help, the time to diagnosis is the next critical step for obtaining definitive treatment. Quality metrics for hospitals treating patients with acute stroke include time intervals of less than 25 min from arrival to CT scan and 60 min from arrival to definitive treatment. To achieve these metrics, rapid diagnosis and treatment decisions are necessary.

It is estimated that between 15,000 and 165,000 cerebrovascular events are misdiagnosed annually in the US. This translates to a significant portion of stroke victims who present to the emergency department in the early stages of the disorder being sent home without receiving proper treatment. In addition, the rate of stroke over-diagnosis is estimated at 19-31%, exposing patients to significant risks from thrombolysis or thrombectomy procedures with no treatment benefit for their actual underlying condition.

When a patient presents to the emergency department with stroke-like symptoms, a number of conditions must be ruled out before a diagnosis of stroke can be made. Conditions that mimic stroke are diverse and include seizure, systemic infection, syncope, hypoglycemia, tumor, vertigo, migraine, and dementia. While clinicians are performing various tests to rule out these conditions, damage to the ischemic brain is progressing. Currently, clinical examination and medical imaging are used to diagnose stroke. However, there are a number of drawbacks to these strategies including low diagnostic accuracy and lengthy time requirements.

The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) is a standardized assessment tool for the diagnosis of the disease. It scores clinical symptoms such as level of consciousness, limb drift, facial palsy, and speaking ability. The scale ranges from 0 to 42, with the higher severity associated with higher scores. It is most useful for large artery, anterior circulation strokes because they commonly exhibit the symptoms assessed by the tool. However, complex stroke syndromes and posterior circulation strokes could actually end up with an NIHSS score of 0, leading to a missed diagnosis because the symptoms exhibited by the patient were limited to headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness—symptoms which are not evaluated by the NIHSS. The accuracy of stroke screening tools is low and variable with sensitivities ranging between 82% and 93% and specificities between 74% and 99%. The diagnostic sensitivity of EMS first responders is 50%, while that of emergency physicians is 92%. The reliability of the diagnosis also decreases with less experienced or less confident examiners.

When stroke is suspected via clinical examination, the next step is neuroimaging. This approach is often used to distinguish between hemorrhagic stroke and ischemic stroke and rule out certain stroke mimics. CT scans can be performed rapidly, but have low accuracy for identifying ischemic stroke (sensitivity=26% to 39% and specificity=52% to 100%). While CT scans can reveal bleeding in the brain, they are not able to image acute infarction. MRI scans—although much more accurate in detecting acute infarction—are more time consuming, less cost effective, and not widely available in emergency departments. Additionally, there is a subset of patients who are ineligible to be scanned by MRI such as those with implanted pacemaker devices or those with claustrophobia.

Decreasing the time it takes to diagnose a stroke patient leads to quicker treatment times and therefore less likelihood of disability. But to achieve this, the patient must arrive at the hospital within the treatment time limits. Many efforts are underway to decrease the triage time of stroke patients. Examples of this include the prioritization of transporting patients to hospitals with stroke expertise, pre-notification of incoming stroke patient by EMS to hospitals, and telemedicine from smaller hospitals to stroke centers. Having a point-of-care laboratory in the hospital is also shown to decrease the door-to-therapy time by half. The mobile stroke unit (MSU) is another such approach. Instead of transporting a patient to the most convenient hospital, the MSU—which is equipped with CT imaging, point-of-care lab, telemedicine capabilities, and treatment drugs—is designed to diagnose and treat at the site of the emergency. Appropriate triage of patients would decrease time to treatment, especially for those patients with large vessel occlusion who would benefit from endovascular therapy such as mechanical thrombectomy. When directly transported to a stroke center where patients can receive such treatment, a time-consuming secondary transport from the primary hospital to the comprehensive stroke center is avoided.

Multiple pre-hospital assessment tools have been developed for the appropriate triaging of patients by dispatchers and EMTs. The ROSIER scale (Recognition of Stroke in the Emergency Room) and the DIASE (Dispatcher Identification Algorithm of Stroke Emergency) are two such instruments. The first scale has a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 83% while the later has a sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 97%. The number of stroke patients potentially missed using these tools leaves room for vast improvement.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview of the innovation. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the innovation or to delineate the scope of the innovation. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the innovation in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the top causes of mortality and morbidity. Because of this, it is important to continue efforts in diagnosing and treating the disease. A rapid diagnostic blood test has yet to be developed and adopted into hospital processes, despite the potential for it to decrease time to treatment. Numerous blood protein biomarkers have been identified, but to date, none have proven clinically useful.

According to an aspect, the innovation provides a system to differentiate stroke from non-stroke patients via blood biomarkers.

In one embodiment, the innovation provides a system and a method to identify and evaluate novel blood protein biomarker(s) to diagnose stroke. In one embodiment, the method includes using serum from ischemic stroke patients. In one embodiment, the method to identify includes using proteomic and statistical techniques to investigate the differential abundance of proteins in the blood of stroke and non-stroke groups. According to an example, biomarker discovery techniques focused on 2D gel analysis and statistical exploration of SOMAscan assay results. A number of biomarker candidates, including biomarker panels, for ischemic stroke diagnosis, were identified.

In one example, high-abundance serum proteins were found to be differentially expressed between the ischemic brain of stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy and the same patient's circulating arterial blood. Albumin, transferrin, and immunoglobulin gamma protein spots were significantly higher in the circulating blood, and hemoglobin had a large fold change in abundance in the ischemic blood of a few patients. Further analysis of these individual proteins in a new cohort of patients suggested a lower diagnostic accuracy for these protein biomarkers.

A comparison of the venous blood of stroke patients to that of two non-stroke groups identified thirteen serum proteins that can differentiate stroke patients from healthy individuals. Further analysis of these thirteen individual proteins in stroke patients compared to stroke-mimicking patients suggested a lower diagnostic accuracy for these protein biomarkers.

Biomarkers were evaluated in a comparison of stroke patients to stroke mimicking patients, evaluating previously published biomarkers as well as exploring for new biomarker candidates. Here 27 additional proteins were identified that were significantly different between stroke and stroke-mimicking patient groups. These proteins, as single diagnostic biomarkers, were unlikely to be clinically useful. However, stroke biomarker panels show great promise. Random Forest Analysis identified a combination of proteins to distinguish stroke patients from TIA patients and non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients that may be clinically useful.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the innovation can be employed and the subject innovation is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the innovation will become apparent from the following detailed description of the innovation when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1B depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1C depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1D depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1E depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1F depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1G depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1H depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1I depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1J depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1K depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1L depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1M depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 1N depicts a scatter plot that compares serum concentrations of proteins with highly significantly differences between large vessel occlusions (MCA) and small vessel occlusions (lacunar). Following Mann Whitney U test on all stroke patients fourteen proteins were found to have a p-value p<0.01. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a mechanical thrombectomy procedure from the sagittal view. A catheter passes through the clot before collecting blood from the occluded middle cerebral artery, MCA.

FIG. 3A shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3B shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3C shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3D shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3E shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3F shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3G shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3H shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 3I shows a 2D two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) image for one of nine patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Serum proteins more abundant in the circulating sample appear green while those more abundant in the ischemic sample appear red. Proteins found equally in both samples appear yellow.

FIG. 4 is a heat map showing the percent increase or decrease in Cy5 image intensity relative to the Cy3 image intensity. Each column represents one of the nine patients analyzed. Each row represents one of seventy-five protein spots measured. Green indicates an increased signal in the ischemic blood. Orange to red indicates a decreased signal in the ischemic blood. The right column is the percent change in intensity averaged over all nine patients. Three spots showed greater than 200% increase in the average signal intensity (green arrows). However, this difference was not statistically significant. Five spots showed a statistically significant difference in the intensity of ischemic and circulating blood samples (p<0.05) when compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test (red arrows).

FIG. 5 is a comparison of statistically significant gel spots identified in thrombectomy study. Wilcoxon signed rank test resulted in 5 protein spots with statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between ischemic and circulating serum. The interquartile range box represents the middle 50% of data with the whiskers extending to the top and bottom 25%, excluding outliers. The horizontal line represents the median of the data.

FIG. 6 is a map of protein spots picked for analysis. A 2D Coomassie-stained gel is shown to indicate protein spot mapping. Spots 29, 58, 61, 64, 65 had statistically different intensities in ischemic blood compared with circulating blood samples. Spots 46, 47, 57 had >200% increased intensity in ischemic blood, but were not significantly different from the intensity measured in the circulating blood samples.

FIG. 7A shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 7B shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 7C shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 7D shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 7E shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 7F shows comparison of serum protein concentrations between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients for proteins identified by 2D gel analysis of thrombectomy patients. RFUs for transferrin, albumin and haptoglobin were statistically different (p≤0.05) by the Kruskal-Wallis test when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients and healthy individuals. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 8A is a photograph of a 2D gel of pooled stroke serum proteins and pooled control serum proteins from age-60 cohort. Four spots were unique to the gel from healthy patients (Spots 1, 3, 4, 5) and four spots were unique to the gel from stroke patients (Spots 6, 7, 8, 9). The box encloses proteins seen in the age-60 cohort gel which were not seen on the age-50 cohort gel, and are collectively referred to as Spot 15.

FIG. 8B is a photograph of a 2D gel of pooled stroke serum proteins and pooled control serum proteins from age-60 cohort. Four spots were unique to the gel from healthy patients (Spots 1, 3, 4, 5) and four spots were unique to the gel from stroke patients (Spots 6, 7, 8, 9). The box encloses proteins seen in the age-60 cohort gel which were not seen on the age-50 cohort gel, and are collectively referred to as Spot 15.

FIG. 9A is a photograph of a 2D gel of pooled stroke serum proteins and pooled control serum proteins from age-50 cohort. Spot 7 was unique to the gel from stroke patients in the age-50 cohort.

FIG. 9B is a photograph of a 2D gel of pooled stroke serum proteins and pooled control serum proteins from age-50 cohort. Spot 7 was unique to the gel from stroke patients in the age-50 cohort.

FIG. 10 is a graph depicting comparison of SAA levels in Stroke and Healthy age-50 and age-60 combined cohorts. SAA=Serum Amyloid A; RFU=relative fluorescent units. The interquartile range box represents the middle 50% of data with the whiskers extending to the top and bottom 25%, excluding outliers (dots). The horizontal line represents the median of the data.

FIG. 11A shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11B shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11C shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11D shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11E shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11F shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11G shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11H shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11I shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11J shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11K shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11L shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11M shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 11N shows a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 50-68 years. SOMAscan measurements from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) and 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12A is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12B is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12C is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12D is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12E is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12F is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12G is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12H is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12I is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12J is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12K is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12L is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12M is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 12N is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and healthy patients aged 38-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 26 healthy patients (age range 48-75 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13A is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13B is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13C is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13D is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13E is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13F is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13G is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13H is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13I is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13J is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13K is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13L is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13M is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 13N is a scatter plot depicting candidate biomarker protein abundances in serum from stroke and stroke-mimicking patients aged 26-90 years. SOMAscan measurements from 22 stroke patients (age range 38-90 years) and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic) (age range 26-87 years). RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 14A is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of GFAP, b-NGF, and vWF protein concentrations. Three proteins from Table 14 had a statistical difference between 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients when compared using the Mann Whitney U test. Healthy patients were not included in this analysis, however, protein concentrations for this group are shown as a comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 14B is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of GFAP, b-NGF, and vWF protein concentrations. Three proteins from Table 14 had a statistical difference between 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients when compared using the Mann Whitney U test. Healthy patients were not included in this analysis, however, protein concentrations for this group are shown as a comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 14C is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of GFAP, b-NGF, and vWF protein concentrations. Three proteins from Table 14 had a statistical difference between 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking (mimic) patients when compared using the Mann Whitney U test. Healthy patients were not included in this analysis, however, protein concentrations for this group are shown as a comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15A is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15B is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15C is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15D is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15E is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 15F is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), six proteins were found to have a p-value<0.02. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16A is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16B is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16C is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16D is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16E is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16F is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 16G is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.02<p≤0.03. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17A is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17B is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17C is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17D is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17E is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17F is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 17G is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.03<p≤0.04. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18A is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18B is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18C is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18D is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18E is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18F is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 18G is a scatter plot depicting comparisons of protein concentrations for proteins significantly different between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Following Mann Whitney U test on 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics), seven proteins were found to have a p-value 0.04<p≤0.05. Shown in order of decreasing statistical significance. Concentrations from healthy patient samples are shown only for comparison to the other two groups. RFU=relative fluorescent units.

FIG. 19 depicts a decision tree for differentiating healthy patients from patients with stroke-like symptoms. Patient groups are distinguishable based on a GADPH level less than or equal to 8005 RFU, as found by random forest analysis (RFA).

FIG. 20 depicts a decision tree for differentiating stroke patients from stroke-mimicking patients. RFA was able to distinguish these two groups based on the serum concentrations of GDF-11, Dtk, and TGM3 proteins.

FIG. 21 depicts a decision tree for differentiating stroke, non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients, and TIA patients. RFA was able to distinguish these three groups based on the serum concentrations of ENPP7, TBG, and Coag Factor V proteins.

FIG. 22 depicts a decision tree for differentiating stroke and TIA patients. RFA was able to distinguish these two groups based on the serum concentrations of Contactin 1 and TRY3 proteins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the innovation. A diagnostic biomarker that would indicate the presence of stroke, the time of onset, and the type, location and magnitude of injury would be useful to guide treatment for each stroke patient.

According to an aspect, the innovation provides a rapid and accurate test to diagnose stroke. In one embodiment, biomarkers may be used to rapidly and accurately diagnose stroke. In one embodiment, the biomarkers may be utilized in a rapid and inexpensive test that could be used at the bedside or ambulatory setting to definitively indicate the presence or absence of stroke and its severity. Such a test would quickly stratify patients in need of immediate stroke treatment from those who are not having a stroke. The test may aid emergency personnel in the decision for the most appropriate treatment plan and treatment location, thereby minimizing morbidity and mortality of stroke patients. Furthermore, it would help reduce costs for further stroke work-up in non-stroke patients.

Biomarkers are defined as characteristics that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to therapeutic interventions. Common clinical biomarkers include blood pressure and blood glucose levels. For stroke, the NIHSS score, other pre-hospital assessment tools mentioned above, and neuroimaging are all considered biomarkers. In other diseases, common biomarkers are often molecules found in blood or other tissues. For example, patients with tumors are tested for cancer-specific antigens in the biopsied tissue. Patients with suspected heart attack are tested for blood troponin levels to indicate myocardial infarction.

According to an aspect, the innovation provides a test to detect and/or quantify protein biomarkers in the blood of a patient suspected of having or having had a stroke. Using blood and probing for proteins has marked advantages for point-of-care diagnostics, including speed. In one embodiment, the test may include an antigen-based protein detection device designed to minimize the time needed for clinical diagnosis.

There has been considerable effort to find a single biomarker for ischemic stroke by targeting the analysis on specific proteins or other substances which are only expressed in brain tissue. Peripheral blood can reflect the brain's pathophysiology following a stroke because the dying and lysed brain cells release antigens, which move into the blood when the brain endothelial barrier is compromised. However, the pathology of stroke is complex, variable, and involves many cellular signaling and metabolic pathways. Proteins reflective of blood coagulation/thrombosis, oxidation, inflammation, and CNS tissue injury have been shown to increase significantly in blood plasma or cerebral spinal fluid following brain injury. Energy failure, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, blood brain barrier disruption, inflammation, necrosis, and apoptosis also may cause different molecules to appear in the blood stream. Despite this plethora of biomarker candidates, none have shown adequate sensitivity and specificity in clinical studies. Factors such as the inherent heterogeneity of the disease and the impedance of the blood-brain barrier to most proteins and metabolites may preclude finding a single biomarker for stroke. Thus, the present innovation utilizes a panel of biomarkers.

Finding a combination of biomarkers that is sensitive and specific enough to be clinically relevant is an ongoing challenge, although there are some promising initial studies. For example, one study's biomarker panel achieved a remarkable 98% specificity; however, the panel's sensitivity was only 17%. Montaner, J., et al., J. Intern. Med., 2011. 270(2): p. 166-74. Three studies have shown at least a 90% sensitivity with their biomarker panels. Sharma, R., et al., J. Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases 2014. 23(5): p. 910-918; Reynolds, M. A., et al., Clin Chem, 2003. 49(10): p. 1733-9; and Lynch, J. R., et al., Stroke, 2004. 35(1): p. 57-63. The most promising of these panels was from a study conducted by Reynolds et al (2003). Here, a 5-protein panel including BNGF, MCP-1, MMP-9, S100B, vWF was evaluated. The panel achieved a 92% sensitivity and 93% specificity; however, their control group was comprised of healthy individuals—in practice, this is an unlikely population to be suspected of stroke. Even with a seemingly high sensitivity, given the probability that many true stroke patients would be missed, this is not sensitive enough to be clinically useful.

Ideally, a biomarker or panel would be 100% sensitive and specific. It would perfectly classify stroke and non-stroke patients. This is, however, very unrealistic in practice. Researchers are faced with a tradeoff between the two characteristics—an analyte has high specificity but low sensitivity, or vice versa. To replace the current gold-standards of stroke diagnostics or at the least be used as a supplementary diagnostic tool, the accuracy must be higher than the methods already employed (i.e., NIHSS, pre-hospital assessments). The necessity of high diagnostic accuracy comes from the potential dangers of treating patients with thrombolytics. For example, a patient that is misdiagnosed with stroke and is given thrombolytic therapy could be at risk of hemorrhaging—a potential side effect of tPA. Because previous biomarker panels have not improved upon current diagnostic paradigms, the pursuit of a clinically useful biomarker panel is ongoing.

An ideal disease biomarker is specific to the disease. Therefore, biomarker candidates should be molecules expressed as a direct result of the disease. For ischemic stroke, the pathological change originates in the brain. If the pathology causes a release of proteins into the blood at the ischemic insult, these proteins would make for promising biomarker candidates. In one example, blood from the ischemic region of the brain of stroke patients was collected during mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusions. Due to the invasive nature of this type of blood sampling, comparison of this blood to that of a non-stroke patient was not possible; however, a comparison to the same patient's arterial circulation was performed. This permitted a determination of differential abundances of proteins between blood found in the area of the stroke and blood from the general arterial circulation. This is significant because to be established as a biomarker candidate, the protein must be measurable in the circulating blood in an embodiment of the innovation. This is because such a biomarker could be developed into a clinically useful point-of-care diagnostic test which does not require invasive blood sampling.

As described more fully in the Examples, in one embodiment, arterial samples from the ischemic area of the brain and peripheral circulation were collected from stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. To visualize overall differences in protein patterns between these two blood sources, equal amounts of ischemic serum proteins from every patient were pooled and separated via 2D gel electrophoresis, and the same procedure was done for circulating serum proteins. To visualize serum proteins from individual patients, each patient's paired samples—ischemic and circulating—were labeled with Cy5 and Cy3 fluorescent dyes, respectively, and then separated on the same gel by 2D gel electrophoresis. The normalized intensity of each protein spot was measured for each patient's blood samples and the relative protein abundance was calculated as the percent change in the intensity measured in the ischemic blood sample relative to that of the circulating blood sample. Proteins determined to have a significant difference in protein abundance between the ischemic and circulating samples were identified by mass spectrometry or by referencing the Swiss 2D PAGE database. Identified proteins, if available on the SOMAscan assay, were measured in venous blood collected from a different cohort of stroke patients and compared to venous blood of non-stroke patients.

Protein biomarkers were evaluated to identify potential candidates to differentiate/diagnose stroke patients from non-stroke patients . . . . There are many different methods for evaluation proteins, including two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, 2D-DIGE, MALDI-TOF, and the like.

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is a known proteomic technique for separating proteins. The first dimension of separation involves iso-electric focusing, which separates proteins along a polyacrylamide gel's horizontal dimension by their isoelectric point (the pH at which a protein has zero net charge). The second dimension of separation is SDS-PAGE, which separates proteins along a gel's vertical dimension by their molecular weight. For biomarker discovery, there is a marked advantage to two-dimensional separation over only one dimension. Given a sample with a mixture of proteins—in this case, serum—there is a probability of having numerous proteins with the same molecular weight. If one of those proteins had a measurable difference in abundance between two sample groups, that difference may be masked by other proteins. While it is possible that more than one protein can be present in a single spot from a 2-D gel, the probability of separation is higher than that of a 1-D gel.

Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) is a technique that builds on 2D GE by combining multiple samples into one gel. When comparing samples with 2D GE, each sample requires its own gel. The disadvantage of separate gels becomes evident when comparing a particular protein spot from one gel with the equivalent protein spot in another gel. Although the separate gels may have been run under the same conditions, it does not always result in exactly the same spot separation. Because of this, alignment between gels may be slightly askew. The 2D DIGE method resolves this issue by running two samples simultaneously in the same gel, allowing for precise spot alignment. The two samples are labeled with different fluorescent dyes, so although any protein that is present in both samples will be located in the same gel spot, the wavelength of the fluorescent signal emitted from the protein will indicate to which sample it originated.

MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight) mass spectrometry is a technique used to identify protein spots from 2D gels. Proteins are removed from the gel by tryptic digestion, mixed with a matrix and then spotted to a target plate fitted for the mass spectrometer. The MALDI-TOF MS laser is used to excite and ionize the sample-matrix compound. Singly-charged ions then accelerate down an electric field, and the time required for the ions to reach the detector is reflective of their mass. The spectra of mass/charge ratios are then compared to a database to determine the likely identification for the protein.

The SomaLogic SOMAscan assay is a targeted high-throughput approach to differential protein analysis. It can measure the abundance of over 1300 proteins in a single 150 μL sample. The assay uses an aptamer-based technology where proprietary reagents bind to intact proteins within a sample. The bound reagents are then hybridized to DNA sequences which can be measured by fluorescence. The result is a proteomic dataset ready for bioinformatics analysis.

Endovascular mechanical thrombectomy directly recanalizes clogged arteries in stroke patients. During this procedure, a catheter is guided through the arterial line under fluoroscopic guidance until it reaches the occluded artery. A microcatheter is then extended past the offending clot, where it attaches itself to the thrombus, allowing it and the clot to be drawn out of the artery together. A previous study (Flores, A., et al. Journal of Neuroimaging, 2013. 23(2): p. 180-184.) showed the ability to ‘safely and feasibly’ draw blood samples simultaneously from the areas proximal and distal to the clot prior to clot removal. The investigator's intention was to permit real-time analysis of arterial blood gas concentrations as a means of assessing the value of proceeding with the thrombectomy. Their findings showed a differential arterial oxygen concentration across the thrombus; however, there was not a statistically significant difference for other measurements taken, including pH, and glucose, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cl⁻ concentrations. The blood collection method applied in Flores was used to examine differences in the concentration of proteins. Evaluation of these differences may provide insight into the biochemistry and pathophysiology of ischemic brain tissue, and ultimately to identify clinically relevant markers.

Protein biomarkers differentiating large versus small vessel occlusion were identified as described herein. Ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions are candidates for treatment via mechanical thrombectomy. While thrombolytic therapy using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can be administered in most hospitals, the mechanical thrombectomy procedure is only performed in comprehensive stroke centers. When a patient that could benefit from mechanical thrombectomy is taken to facility that does not offer this endovascular therapy, they are often transported to the more appropriate stroke center. Time to treatment (and therefore risk of disability) can be significantly decreased if emergency medical personnel can assess en route whether the patient can be treated at the closest hospital or whether the patient needs to be transported to a comprehensive stroke center. A diagnostic test that differentiates large and small vessel occlusions is therefore clinically relevant.

In one example the venous blood of ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions as well as patients with lacunar (small vessel) strokes was evaluated. The main goal was to determine what proteins are differentially expressed in the blood of stroke patients with large vessel occlusions when compared to stroke patients with small vessel occlusions. The SOMAscan assay data was used to evaluate the differential expression of 1310 proteins between these two patient groups. Univariate analyses were used to identify individual proteins that were significantly different between the two groups. Data from eight patients with middle cerebral artery (large vessel) occlusions and five patients with lacunar (small vessel) stroke were compared using the Mann Whitney U test. Of the 1310 proteins in the assay, 72 proteins were statistically different (p≤0.05) (Table 1).

TABLE 1 Proteins that distinguish large vessel from small vessel occlusions in stroke patients. Target p U AVG(lacunar) AVG(MCA) SD(lacunar) SD(MCA) TGF-b3 0.002 40 553.980 682.600 51.109 65.551 COLEC12 0.002 40 2280.080 4013.100 146.309 1356.178 KLRF1 0.003 1 581.840 502.388 47.430 36.124 IL-17 0.005 1 568.620 491.838 26.265 25.411 D-dimer 0.006 38 2025.520 2817.900 234.365 410.070 Hemopexin 0.006 38 751.080 1845.013 385.343 664.367 FABPL 0.006 38 8732.220 20518.750 1996.253 9154.080 Fibrinogen 0.006 38 50321.180 117205.650 8432.737 47765.553 KYNU 0.006 38 973.160 1325.750 169.790 194.100 AMNLS 0.006 2 183.220 162.300 7.648 13.247 CAMK2B 0.006 38 831.920 1056.250 80.043 190.630 eIF-5 0.006 38 1448.700 1963.975 61.060 512.628 Caspase-2 0.006 2 666.460 405.575 433.692 39.299 ER 0.006 38 941.740 1349.413 61.463 557.965 WNT7A 0.011 3 367.860 305.188 45.468 20.863 Activin AB 0.011 37 1183.840 1607.050 110.531 270.663 Fibrinogen 0.011 37 8158.440 12215.638 930.625 2954.241 g-chain dimer BMX 0.011 3 458.760 387.263 77.580 26.169 RASA1 0.011 37 1402.940 1916.600 72.014 516.807 NANOG 0.011 3 270.040 202.163 99.397 12.629 CAMK2D 0.011 37 2644.400 3329.925 204.052 733.470 AMPK a1b1g1 0.019 4 686.160 562.013 73.346 61.988 CD70 0.019 4 453.480 383.138 30.983 40.950 MMP-7 0.019 36 2434.120 3740.725 280.397 984.056 Activin A 0.019 36 4089.540 6536.638 749.605 2020.107 H31 0.019 36 1435.460 1890.038 158.076 354.081 UFC1 0.019 36 14624.920 19301.563 1214.973 3731.801 sICAM-5 0.019 36 1202.820 1795.100 226.865 513.949 MO2R1 0.019 4 1213.080 1039.300 156.060 78.908 VEGF sR3 0.019 4 10348.040 7631.838 1710.641 1650.799 SREC-II 0.019 4 563.460 469.413 75.574 62.174 Adrenomedullin 0.019 4 3002.820 2474.863 387.158 344.423 CLF-1/CLC 0.019 4 1023.480 659.813 659.523 37.124 Complex HGH 0.030 5 633.500 459.325 137.669 58.598 Aurora kinase A 0.030 5 2899.040 1963.550 1049.113 176.515 HTRA2 0.030 35 4437.420 5446.113 301.265 779.709 SHP-2 0.030 35 4700.140 6952.438 1363.174 1665.286 IL-7 Ra 0.030 5 502.620 461.825 19.640 29.790 MMP-1 0.030 35 3760.220 11361.325 1805.245 7944.916 hnRNP K 0.030 5 409.400 366.663 30.305 27.442 IL-18 BPa 0.030 35 5209.720 7489.575 1563.922 1603.100 NR1D1 0.030 5 954.700 859.125 42.182 78.498 CLC7A 0.030 5 418.900 328.800 77.488 54.638 MMP-17 0.030 35 1492.220 1765.450 78.072 252.767 ENPP7 0.030 35 3893.100 8056.513 1215.072 4081.738 Ubiquitin+1 0.030 35 1411.880 2101.138 382.568 680.975 tau 0.030 5 421.200 220.700 375.967 21.671 Tenascin 0.030 35 24804.060 30200.363 4194.023 6442.157 cIAP-2 0.030 5 460.180 402.988 76.293 140.435 EPHA3 0.030 5 919.720 411.038 1354.551 403.247 OAS1 0.030 5 572.880 686.688 22.409 554.693 PSME3 0.045 6 545.220 370.713 153.352 35.901 AMPM2 0.045 34 12826.480 18872.400 3091.215 4636.649 KI2L4 0.045 34 1107.780 1521.775 244.625 312.938 paraoxonase 1 0.045 6 263.900 239.588 17.813 15.850 Ubiquitin 0.045 34 30571.280 42331.500 7532.182 9069.998 Galectin-3 0.045 34 22080.700 27861.925 3059.793 4838.796 CRK 0.045 34 11585.900 15894.513 1548.399 3242.429 FGFR-2 0.045 6 645.480 435.013 277.348 35.400 VEGF sR2 0.045 6 12034.260 9570.300 1744.259 1758.932 prostatic 0.045 34 3635.280 6059.713 1509.813 2430.873 binding protein RANTES 0.045 6 104045.100 62386.200 35502.738 32336.383 IL-1F8 0.045 6 924.400 802.800 153.602 60.362 NSF1C 0.045 34 1418.120 2646.638 580.193 1710.595 FGF23 0.045 34 950.220 1263.250 151.628 301.337 HB-EGF 0.045 6 404.320 316.263 125.756 32.347 TFPI 0.045 34 62021.360 82255.550 6786.145 22271.176 GFAP 0.045 34 809.760 2217.988 48.741 2150.110 PDGFRA 0.045 34 2887.460 3515.063 398.043 721.101 KI3L2 0.045 6 3088.260 886.775 4717.833 77.687 MMP-13 0.045 34 861.140 1404.550 79.393 1092.460 LRRT1 0.045 34 130.660 244.075 7.409 268.170

Using a univariate Mann Whitney U-test, 72 serum proteins were found that showed significantly different concentrations (p≤0.05) in stroke patients with small vessel occlusions (lacunar) compared with patients with large vessel occlusions (MCA).

When examining the scatter plots for the top 14 proteins (p≤0.01), the distribution of the RFU measurements for each group has excellent separation, making a threshold value easy to define for calculating a clinically valuable sensitivity and specificity (FIGS. 1A-1N).

In one aspect, the innovation provides a method for characterizing protein biomarker candidates for inclusion in biomarker panels for diagnosing stroke.

Example I

In one example, characterization of patients' blood was performed using various proteomic techniques described below. The proteomic analysis was not restricted to specific protein biomarker targets, as has been the focus of previous studies. Rather a comprehensive proteomic approach was undertaken using 2-dimensional protein separation, mass spectrometry, and high-throughput aptamer-based technology to study differences in blood protein expression between ischemic stroke patients and non-stroke patients. Blood was collected from patients upon admission to the hospital due to the importance of finding a diagnostic biomarker that is measurable in the blood within a few hours of stroke onset. Additionally, blood was collected directly from the ischemic core of stroke patients undergoing an established clot-removal procedure—a source that has not previously been explored to identify novel protein biomarkers.

Two main proteomic approaches were used to study blood biomarkers. The first is two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D GE) and two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) and the second is a high-throughput aptamer-based protein assay (SOMAscan). Both approaches allow for a broad analysis of differential protein expression in either a non-targeted or targeted fashion.

Blood Sample Collection

Two IRB-approved studies were executed for blood collection. In the thrombectomy study, arterial blood from the ischemic core of stroke patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy was collected. In the peripheral blood study blood was collected via venipuncture from patients presenting to the emergency department with stroke-like symptoms. All blood collection took place at Miami Valley Hospital (Dayton, Ohio), with the exception of healthy controls, which were obtained from commercial vendors.

Patients undergoing endovascular mechanical thrombectomy for treatment of ischemic stroke and whose legally authorized representative gave informed consent were subjects of this study. Exclusion criteria included minors, pregnant women, and patients with known infectious disease. If (1) the patient met these criteria, (2) the family was present to sign the informed consent before the procedure was initiated, and (3) penumbral blood was able to be aspirated during the procedure, the patient was included in this study. Blood collection occurred between November 2015 and October 2016. During this time, informed consents were obtained for 18 patients, and blood samples were obtained for 9 patients.

Ischemic core and circulating arterial blood samples were obtained in the angiosuite by a neurointerventional radiologist. Mechanical thrombectomy was performed with Solitaire Revascularization Device (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn.) delivered through a microcatheter guided from the femoral artery to the occluded cerebral artery (FIG. 2). Prior to clot retrieval, a small sample of blood was obtained from the systemic circulation in the internal carotid artery (arterial sample). The microcatheter and Solitaire device was then extended to pass through the clot. While the Solitaire device was expanding prior to clot removal, a small amount of blood was aspirated distal to the clot in the ischemic core (ischemic sample). Then the clot was retracted with the Solitaire device through the arterial line.

Arterial and ischemic blood samples were collected in red-top tubes, allowed to clot at room temperature, and centrifuged for 15 min at 3,000×g in a refrigerated centrifuge (4° C.). The supernatant serum was removed and stored at −80° C. in aliquots for later analysis.

Patients presenting to hospital emergency department with stroke-like symptoms (termed “stroke-alert”) and whose legally authorized representative gave informed consent were subjects of this study. Exclusion criteria included minors and patients with known infectious disease. Patient samples were categorized into three groups based on the final diagnosis noted in their medical records: (A) Patients with a final diagnosis of ischemic stroke, (B) Patients with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA), and (C) Patients—referred to as stroke mimics—with a diagnosis other than ischemic stroke and other than TIA. Blood collection occurred between November 2016 and February 2017. Blood from healthy controls with similar age, race, and sex distribution to the stroke cohort was obtained from two commercial vendors: 11 samples from Conversant Bio (Huntsville, Ala.) and 15 samples from Innovative Research (Novi, Mich.).

All stroke-alert patients had blood drawn via venipuncture upon arrival to the emergency department according to the hospital's standard procedure. Blood was collected in gold-top (serum separator) tubes, inverted 5 times, then allowed to clot for up to 30 min. Samples were then centrifuged for 15 min at 3,000×g in a refrigerated centrifuge (4° C.). The supernatant serum was removed and stored at −80° C. in aliquots for later analysis.

Serum Preparation for 2D Separation.

Serum collected during thrombectomy was removed of albumin with Aurum Affi-Gel Blue mini columns (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.), then salts, lipids, and nucleic acids were eliminated using the Ready Prep 2D CleanUp Kit (Biorad, Hercules, Calif.). This method was determined in optimization studies to yield the best separation and visualization of proteins on a gel. The resulting protein pellet was suspended in rehydration buffer (8 M Urea, 2% CHAPS, 50 nM DTT, 0.2% Bio-Lyte 3/10 Ampholyte) (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.)), and the concentration determined using the BioRad Protein Assay (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). For some studies, a pooled sample was created by combining 40 μg of protein from each of five patient samples to make a 200 μg sample.

Isoelectric Focusing.

The first dimension of protein separation was achieved with isoelectric focusing, which separates proteins based on their isoelectric point (pI). Prepared protein samples were inoculated onto a ReadyStrip IPG strip (11 cm, pH 3-10 or 11 cm, pH 4-7) (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.), and incubated at room temperature for approximately 12 hours. Iso-electric focusing (IEF) of the IPG strip was performed in a focusing tray on PROTEON IEF Cell (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.). IEF was programmed for 3 automated steps based on IPG strip length. A total of 30,000 Volt-hours was achieved over 5.3 hours total time with a maximum current of 50 μA and cell temperature of 20° C.

IPG Equilibration.

After IEF, the IPG strips were equilibrated in 2 mL of Equilibration Buffer I consisting of 6 M urea, 2% SDS, 0.375M Tris-HCl, pH 8.8, 20% v/v glycerol, and 2% w/v DTT (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.) for 10 min and then in 2 mL Equilibration Buffer II consisting of 6 M urea, 2% SDS, 0.375M Tris-HCl, pH 8.8, 20% v/v glycerol, and 0.5 g iodoacetamine (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.) for 10 min to reduce the disulfide bonds and alkylate the SH groups of the proteins, respectively.

SDS-PAGE.

Proteins on the IPG strip were then separated in a second dimension by molecular weight on AnykD Criterion TGX pre-cast polyacrylamide gel (11 cm IPG/Prep+1 well, 550 μL (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.)) in a Criterion electrophoresis cell run at 200 V, 70 mA, for approximately 40 min with 1×Tris/glycine/SDS running buffer (25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine, 0.1% SDS, pH 8.3). The voltage was increased to 300 V when running two gels in one electrophoresis cell.

Staining and Imaging.

Following electrophoresis, the gel was removed from its cassette, washed in nanopure water, and then covered in Gel-Code Blue stain (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.) overnight. After destaining with nanopure water, the gel was imaged with a ChemiDoc Imager (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.).

Image Analysis and Spot Identification.

Because the gel is marked with a molecular weight standard and the range of pH values on the isoelectric strip is known, some spots were preliminarily identified based on weight and isoelectric point (pI) using known 2D gel databases, including SWISS-2DPAGE (http://world-2dpage.expasy.org/swiss-2dpage/) and literature which contains protein data on various 2-D PAGE and SDS-PAGE reference maps (Hoogland, C., et al., Proteomics, 2004. 4(8): p. 2352-6; Pieper, R., et al., Proteomics, 2003. 3(7): p. 1345-64). Otherwise, spots were identified using mass spectrometry following in gel digestion of proteins

Serum Preparation for 2D Separation.

Albumin was removed from the serum samples collected during thrombectomy using Aurum Affi-Gel Blue mini columns (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). Salts, lipids, and nucleic acids were then removed using a ReadyPrep 2D CleanUp Kit (Biorad, Hercules, Calif.), resulting in a protein pellet.

Fluorescent Labelling of Serum Proteins.

Protein pellets were solubilized in 30 μL buffer consisting of 8 M Urea, 40 mM Tris, and 4% CHAPS at pH 8.0. The protein concentration of the resulting solution was measured with the BioRad Protein Assay (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) and a sample containing 25 μg of protein was used for analysis. Proteins in the arterial and ischemic samples then were stained with Cy3 and Cy5 dye, respectively, using the CyDye DIGE-Fluor Labeling Kit (GE Healthcare, Pittsburgh, Pa.). An internal standard was created using equal quantities of protein from arterial and ischemic samples. This combined sample was similarly stained with Cy2 dye. Dye reactions were stopped with addition of 10 mM lysine. Dye-labeled serum samples were diluted 1:1 with a solution of 8 M Urea, 4% CHAPS, and 130 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and the three solutions of dye-labeled proteins from each patient were combined.

Isoelectric Focusing and IPG Equilibration.

Each combined dye-labeled sample was brought to 200 μL total volume using 8 M Urea, 2% CHAPS, 50 mM DTT, 0.2% Bio-Lyte 3/10 Ampholyte (BioRad) and then applied to an 11 cm, pH 3-10 immobilized pH gradient strip (ReadyStrip IPG, Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). Iso-electric focusing (IEF) of the proteins was performed on the IPG strip using a PROTEON IEF Cell (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) automated to deliver a total of 30,000 Volt-hours over 5.3 hr at a cell temperature 20° C. and maximum current of 50 μA. After IEF, proteins on the IPG strips were reduced with 2% w/v DTT in a buffer of 6 M urea, 2% SDS, 0.375 M Tris-HCl, and 20% v/v glycerol at pH 8.8 (Bio-Rad Equilibration Buffer 1) for 15 min at room temperature and then alkylated in 6 M urea, 2% SDS, 0.375 M Tris-HCl, 20% v/v glycerol, 0.5 g iodoacetamide, pH 8.8 (Bio-Rad Equilibration Buffer 2) for 15 min at room temperature.

SDS-PAGE.

Proteins on the IPG strip were separated by molecular weight using electrophoresis in the second dimension on AnykD Criterion TGX polyacrylamide gels (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.) run at 200 V, 70 mA, for approximately 40 min with a running buffer consisting of 25 mM Tris, 192 mM glycine, 0.1% SDS, at pH 8.3.

Imaging.

Following electrophoresis, gels were removed from their cassettes, briefly washed in ultrapure water, and then visualized with a ChemiDocMP+Imager (Bio-Rad, Hercules, Calif.). Four images were generated for each gel: one image specific for each CyDye (Cy5, Cy3, Cy2) plus a composite image to visually display the relative abundance of proteins in serum samples taken from arterial (Cy3) and ischemic (Cy5) sites.

Image Analysis and Normalization.

Using the image analysis program ImageJ Version 1.51p, visible protein spots from the gels were manually selected with the ROI (region of interest) Manager Tool. Spot selections were saved as an overlaying template to ensure alignment of spots across all gel images for each patient. For each Cy3 and Cy5 image, the maximum and minimum signal intensity for each spot was measured and exported to Excel. To correct for the local background noise, each protein spot's minimum signal intensity value was subtracted from its maximum signal intensity. For each gel, the Cy5 values from all the spots were summed. Then the Cy5 value for each spot was normalized to this summed intensity. The same procedure was performed for Cy3 values. To account for gel-to-gel variation, an additional normalization step was performed based on the Melanie Total Volume Normalization method, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics. For each gel, the Cy2 values from all the spots were summed. Then the mean of the summed intensities was calculated across the Cy2 gels for all patients. A reference image was selected by using the Cy2 gel with the summed intensity closest to the mean summed intensity. Each gel's normalization factor was then calculated as the reference image's summed intensity divided by the summed intensity for the gel being normalized. Each spot within that gel then was divided by this normalization factor. The process was repeated for all Cy3 and Cy5 gel images.

Statistical Analysis.

To determine the relative increase or decrease in abundance for each protein in the ischemic sample relative to that in the arterial sample, the normalized fluorescent image intensity from each protein spot in the ischemic sample (Cy5 dye) was divided by the normalized fluorescence image intensity from the same protein spot in the arterial sample (Cy3 dye). To determine proteins that had significant differences between these sample groups, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used (Microsoft Excel v2013, Microsoft Corp, Redmond, Wash.). P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Protein Identification

In Gel Digestion.

Spots of interest were excised from gels using 1.5 mm or 3 mm spot-picking tool (The Gel Company, San Francisco, Calif.). Following a standardized in-lab protocol, gel pieces were washed twice in 50% diluted acetonitrile (ACN) for 15 min, dehydrated with 100% ACN for 2 min, and rehydrated with 100 μL 100 mM ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) for 5 min. Next, 100 μL ACN was added for a 15 min incubation, the gel slice was covered with ACN until it turned white and then 100 μL 25 mM ammonium bicarbonate was added for 10 min. The supernatant was removed and 100 μL of a 1:1 mixture of 50 mM NH₄HCO₃:ACN was added. This step was repeated once again and then the samples were vacuum centrifuged for 5 min. The gel piece was treated with 25 mM NH₄HCO₃, 1 μL trypsin, and 15 μL 50 mM NH₄HCO₃ for overnight digestion. To recover peptides, the supernatant was removed and 20 μL 0.3% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was added to saturate the gel piece. Application of 30 μL of 50% ACN containing 0.3% TFA was repeated 3 times for 10 min each, with supernatants collected after each repetition. Combined supernatants were then reduced to 10 μL volume in a SpeedVac and stored at −20° C. until Zip-Tip clean up.

Zip Tip Cleanup and Target Plate Preparation.

Following digestion, proteins underwent C18 ZipTip clean up to de-salt and concentrate the peptide sample. Methanol was used to activate the C18 pipette tip (Millipore Sigma, Burlington, Mass.). Then 0.1% TFA was used to wash out the methanol. After the peptide sample was loaded onto the ZipTip, it was washed with 0.1% TFA and eluted to a fresh tube with 90% ACN containing 0.1% TFA. One microliter of the cleaned sample was then mixed with an equal volume α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA). One microliter of this solution was spotted to an MTP 384 brushed-steel target plate for the Autoflex MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer (Bruker Daltonics, MA).

MALDI TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Prior to each session, the AutoFlex MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometer was calibrated using a peptide mix from Bruker Daltonics. To generate protein/peptide spectra (MS data) for unknown samples, the FlexControl 3.4 software settings were set to reflector mode, with laser power set at 30% and detector gain set at 3.5. Spectra were obtained in the 200-5000 Dalton range. The laser was fired between 4000-10000 times until peaks were generated in the 104 or higher intensity range. The resulting spectrum was processed with the PMS FAMS Method which deselected for matrix-related peaks before being saved. A mass list was generated in the Flex Analysis software. To further fragment peaks of interest (MS/MS data), Bruker LIFT mode was implemented using automated settings for detector gain and Dalton range. Laser power ranged from 80-100% and the laser was fired 10,000-25,000 times.

Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis.

MS and MS/MS data were submitted to the MASCOT server (Matrix Science, London, United Kingdom) at Wright State University's Proteomics Analysis Lab. The data were searched against NCBI database using the following settings: Homo sapiens taxonomy, tryptic cleavage with maximum of two missed cleavages, variable modifications of carbamidomethylation and oxidation of methionine, a mass accuracy tolerance up to 2.5 Da for the MS and a tolerance up to 1.5 for the MS/MS. A Mowse probability score had to be considered significant to accept the identification.

2D Page Referencing.

When MS data was unavailable, protein spots of interest were identified by referencing two 2D PAGE databases for human plasma or serum. The approximate molecular weight and isoelectric point of the unknown protein spot, as well as its positional relationship to nearby MS-identified spots, were used to coordinate to the reference gel.

SOMAscan Data Analysis

Multiplex assay. Eighty serum samples were submitted to SomaLogic, LLC for measurement of 1310 proteins by the SOMAscan assay. For this analysis, SOMAmer reagents (aptamers) labeled with a photocleavable linker and biotin were immobilized on streptavidin-coated beads. Each serum sample was incubated with reagents and serum proteins were allowed to bind, forming SOMAmer-target protein complexes. Unbound proteins were washed away, and bound proteins were photocleaved with UV light, leaving only the reagents to represent the once-bound proteins. The reagents then were bound to complementary sequences of DNA hybridization probes on a microarray. Probes were then quantified by fluorescence. The result was measured as relative fluorescent units (RFU) and is directly proportional to the amount of target protein in the original serum sample.

Normalization.

The SOMAscan assay results were normalized using three methods. First, hybridization normalization corrects for systematic effects introduced during the DNA hybridization step. A control sequence that was introduced into the assay prior to hybridization was used to calculate a scaling factor, and each sample was normalized to this factor. Second, plate scaling corrects for variation that occurs between array plates. A calibrator control for serum was run in replicate within the same assay as the serum samples. Signals from this control were used to calculate a single scale factor for each plate. Third, the median normalization allows for comparison of signals across a plate by correcting for introduced variation from the assay or natural variation in samples' total protein concentrations. The median signal intensity from each subarray was used to calculate a sample-based scaling factor.

Univariate Statistical Analysis.

Univariate analyses were performed using SomaSuite software (SomaLogic, Boulder, Colo.) to determine proteins with a significant difference between groups. Non-parametric analysis was chosen because of small sample size. The Mann Whitney U test and the Kolmogorov—Smirnov (KS) test were used to compare two groups, while the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare three groups. The threshold for statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

Random Forest Analysis (RFA).

RFA is a machine learning program that can predict which variables are likely linked to the diagnosis outcome. RFA was programmed using R software. The program randomly selected patient samples with replacement. The program then randomly selected 37 proteins from the 1310-protein SOMAscan assay results and generated a decision tree using as many of the 37 proteins as necessary until it had categorized the patient samples into a diagnosis group (stroke, mimic, etc). This process was repeated 1,000 times to create a decision-tree forest (the random forest). Each set of patient data then was tested by the random forest. Based on the patient's 1310 protein RFU measurements, the forest votes—each decision tree classifies the patient into a diagnosis group in accordance with its decision parameters. The diagnosis group with the most votes is the group to which that patient was categorized. To create one decision tree that represents the entire random forest, replicate random forests were generated 1,000 times and the 10 proteins that appeared most frequently during these simulations were used to create a single tree (biomarker panel). This final tree was used to test all patient samples and generate a classification table, from which the sensitivity and specificity of the biomarker panel was determined, as shown schematically in Table 2, where letters represent the numbers of patients in each group.

TABLE 2 Classification table for calculation of sensitivity and specificity. Test Positive Test Negative for Disease for Disease Disease Present a b Disease Absent c d

Sensitivity, Specificity.

The sensitivity of a diagnostic test is determined by its ability to correctly classify patients with the disease diagnosis. It is also referred to as the true positive rate and is calculated as a/(a+b) using values shown in Table 2. The specificity of a diagnostic test is the tests ability to correctly classify patients who do not have the disease diagnosis. Specificity is also referred to as the true negative rate and is calculated as d/(c+d) using values shown in Table 2. These fractions were represented as percentages.

Likelihood Ratios.

A likelihood ratio was calculated for each biomarker panel created by the random forest analysis to assess the value of a diagnostic test. The positive likelihood ratio (LR+) is used to determine whether a positive test result is positively associated with the disease. It is the probability of a positive test given the presence of the disease divided by the probability of a positive test result given the absence of the disease. It is calculated as follows:

LR+=sensitivity/1−specificity

The negative likelihood ratio determines whether a negative test result is associated with the absence of disease. It is the probability of a negative test result given the presence of the disease divided by the probability of a negative test result given the absence of the disease. It is calculated as follows:

LR−=1−sensitivity/specificity

A high LR+ and low LR− are associated with high diagnostic accuracy.

Nine patients were included in the thrombectomy study (Table 3). The average age was 77 and NIHSS scores ranged from 10-31. The locations of the patients' occlusions varied, with the majority occurring in the left middle cerebral artery. Three of the patients received tPA thrombolytic therapy prior to the thrombectomy procedure.

TABLE 3 Patient characteristics for thrombectomy study. Patient # Sex Age Clot Location NIHSS score (initial) tPA 1 M 82 Right ICA 19 N 2 F 60 Left MCA 10 N 3 M 78 Left MCA 21 N 4 F 87 Left MCA 31 N 5 M 83 Left MCA 16 N 6 M 69 Right MCA 17 Y 7 F 79 Basilar artery 16 N 8 F 69 Left MCA 16 Y 9 F 83 Left MCA 26 Y ICA = internal carotid artery; MCA = middle cerebral artery; NIHSS = National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; tPA = tissue plasminogen activator (thrombolytic therapy)

Each patient's paired blood serum samples were analyzed with 2D-DIGE (FIGS. 3A-3I) to evaluate patient-specific changes in protein abundance in ischemic versus circulating blood. Protein spots were selected for quantitative analysis if they were present in the gels from all nine patients. The change in relative abundance of 75 selected protein spots for each patient is displayed as a heat map in FIG. 4. The average relative abundance across all patients for each protein is shown in the right hand column. High variability was seen across the nine patients. A number of protein spots had a high-fold increase in abundance in the ischemic serum of some patients. As an example, 4 of the 9 patients showed more than a 300% increase in abundance for protein spot 46 while another 2 patients had 47% and 70% increases and the remaining 3 patients showed a decrease in abundance. The average percent change was 304%; however, this value was not statistically significantly different by the Wilcoxon signed rank test (p=0.097). A similar finding was seen for spot 47 (average=200% increase in ischemic serum, p=0.097) and spot 57 (average=339% increase in ischemic serum, p=0.155). When the univariate Wilcoxon signed rank analysis was performed for the remaining protein spots, there were five protein spots which showed a statistically significant difference in abundance between ischemic serum samples and the arterial circulation serum samples (FIG. 5). Identifications of these spots are indicated in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Protein identifications for protein spots analyzed in thrombectomy study. Mowse % Sequence Gel Spot ExPASy SWISS 2D PAGE database ID* Mascot Identification score Coverage Control 1 Alpha-1-antitrypsin Alpha-1-antitrypsin 62 46% Control 2 Serotransferrin Serotransferrin 57 25% Control 3 Haptoglobin Haptoglobin 152 11% Protein spot with statistical differences in image intensities between ischemic and circulating blood samples 29 Albumin Serum Albumin 79 10% 58 Spot present but not labeled Chain A, Human Serum Transferrin 51  7% Recombinant N-terminal lobe 61 Ig heavy chain gamma Chain A, Apo-Human Serum Transferrin 51  1% (Non-glycosylated) 64 Ig heavy chain gamma Ig gamma-4 Chain C 84  3% 65 Ig heavy chain gamma Unidentified n/a n/a Protein spots with greater than 200% increased intensity in ischemic blood samples 46 Hemoglobin subunit beta Hemoglobin beta 178 32% 47 Hemoglobin subunit beta Hemoglobin beta 328 52% 57 Hemoglobin subunit alpha Unidentified n/a n/a 23 Fibrinogen Vitamin D-binding protein precursor 67 12% 25 Fibrinogen Fibrin gamma fragment 188 70% 39 Transthyretin Haptoglobin related protein precursor 60  9% 42 Transthyretin Transthyretin Chain A amyloidogenic variant 117 21% 44 Haptoglobin Haptoglobin Hp2 113 12% 59 No spot present, potentially PRO1400 (serotransferrin) 103  6% Complement Factor B or Plasminogen

Gel Spot number is annotated in FIG. 6. Protein spots were identified using either 2D PAGE database or MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The Mowse score is the probability-based score for protein identification: a high score denotes a low probability that the sequence's identification is due to chance. All scores listed in the table met the threshold of significance set by the MASCOT algorithm.

A Pearson correlation analysis showed that NUBS scores were correlated with age and sixteen of the protein spots analyzed by 2D DIGE (Table 5). The heat map profile for Patient 4, who had the highest age and stroke severity score of the cohort, showed several proteins with a more extreme percent change in abundance than that seen in the other patients. There was no apparent relationship between the percent change in abundance and the other patient parameters including treatment with tPA and the location of the occluded artery. Three of the nine patients received tPA, yet there is no pattern in these patients' heat map profiles that suggests tPA treatment changes protein expression. The one patient with a basilar artery occlusion also had no outstanding changes in her heat map profile when compared to that of patients with middle cerebral artery occlusions.

TABLE 5 Pearson correlation analysis for NIHSS score, age and the 75 protein spots analyzed for nine thrombectomy patients Correlation of NIHSS score to age and protein spots AGE Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Spot 6 Spot 7 Spot 8 NIHSS 0.763 0.450 0.449 0.461 0.768 0.573 0.725 0.597 −0.426 0.017 0.225 0.225 0.212 0.016 0.107 0.027 0.090 0.253 Spot 9 Spot 10 Spot 11 Spot 12 Spot 13 Spot 14 Spot 15 Spot 16 Spot 17 NIHSS −0.457 −0.370 −0.563 −0.630 −0.537 −0.551 0.031 −0.453 −0.680 0.217 0.327 0.114 0.069 0.136 0.124 0.938 0.220 0.044 Spot 18 Spot 19 Spot 20 Spot 21 Spot 22 Spot 23 Spot 24 Spot 25 Spot 26 NIHSS −0.356 −0.438 −0.602 −0.806 −0.641 −0.641 −0.569 0.608 −0.013 0.347 0.238 0.086 0.009 0.063 0.063 0.110 0.082 0.973 Spot 27 Spot 28 Spot 29 Spot 30 Spot 31 Spot 32 Spot 33 Spot 34 Spot 35 NIHSS 0.186 −0.651 −0.018 −0.390 −0.561 −0.222 0.783 0.267 0.452 0.632 0.058 0.964 0.299 0.116 0.566 0.013 0.488 0.222 Spot 36 Spot 37 Spot 38 Spot 39 Spot 40 Spot 41 Spot 42 Spot 43 Spot 44 NIHSS −0.439 0.675 0.415 0.205 0.538 0.719 0.541 0.448 0.782 0.238 0.046 0.267 0.596 0.135 0.029 0.133 0.227 0.013 Spot 45 Spot 46 Spot 47 Spot 48 Spot 49 Spot 50 Spot 51 Spot 52 Spot 53 NIHSS 0.788 0.138 0.100 0.865 0.812 0.895 0.808 0.768 0.018 0.012 0.724 0.798 0.003 0.008 0.001 0.008 0.016 0.963 Spot 54 Spot 55 Spot 56 Spot 57 Spot 58 Spot 59 Spot 60 Spot 61 Spot 62 NIHSS 0.592 0.541 0.717 0.115 0.248 −0.166 0.059 −0.045 0.069 0.093 0.133 0.030 0.768 0.520 0.669 0.881 0.908 0.861 Spot 63 Spot 64 Spot 65 Spot 66 Spot 67 Spot 68 Spot 69 Spot 70 Spot 71 NIHSS 0.376 0.591 0.338 −0.303 0.072 0.111 −0.131 −0.388 −0.264 0.319 0.094 0.374 0.427 0.854 0.775 0.737 0.302 0.492 Spot 72 Spot 73 Spot 74 Spot 75 NIHSS −0.323 −0.044 −0.254 0.695 0.396 0.910 0.510 0.038 Correlation of age to NIHSS score and protein spots NIHSS Spot 1 Spot 2 Spot 3 Spot 4 Spot 5 Spot 6 Spot 7 Spot 8 AGE 0.763 0.373 0.237 0.231 0.469 0.656 0.658 0.519 −0.389 0.017 0.323 0.540 0.550 0.203 0.055 0.054 0.152 0.301 Spot 9 Spot 10 Spot 11 Spot 12 Spot 13 Spot 14 Spot 15 Spot 16 Spot 17 AGE 0.132 0.170 0.028 −0.094 −0.070 −0.147 0.557 0.194 −0.299 0.736 0.662 0.943 0.811 0.858 0.706 0.119 0.618 0.435 Spot 18 Spot 19 Spot 20 Spot 21 Spot 22 Spot 23 Spot 24 Spot 25 Spot 26 AGE −0.006 −0.500 −0.416 −0.708 −0.312 −0.178 −0.081 0.627 −0.347 0.989 0.171 0.265 0.033 0.414 0.647 0.837 0.071 0.361 Spot 27 Spot 28 Spot 29 Spot 30 Spot 31 Spot 32 Spot 33 Spot 34 Spot 35 AGE 0.262 −0.209 0.348 0.136 −0.143 −0.271 0.671 0.276 0.125 0.496 0.589 0.358 0.726 0.713 0.481 0.048 0.473 0.749 Spot 36 Spot 37 Spot 38 Spot 39 Spot 40 Spot 41 Spot 42 Spot 43 Spot 44 AGE −0.109 0.434 −0.137 −0.124 0.242 0.163 0.081 0.242 0.393 0.779 0.244 0.726 0.751 0.530 0.676 0.836 0.531 0.295 Spot 45 Spot 46 Spot 47 Spot 48 Spot 49 Spot 50 Spot 51 Spot 52 Spot 53 AGE 0.249 −0.202 −0.022 0.396 0.288 0.518 0.509 0.635 −0.241 0.518 0.602 0.954 0.292 0.452 0.153 0.162 0.066 0.532 Spot 54 Spot 55 Spot 56 Spot 57 Spot 58 Spot 59 Spot 60 Spot 61 Spot 62 AGE 0.296 0.679 0.618 −0.273 0.757 −0.262 −0.113 0.492 0.411 0.439 0.045 0.076 0.477 0.018 0.497 0.772 0.178 0.272 Spot 63 Spot 64 Spot 65 Spot 66 Spot 67 Spot 68 Spot 69 Spot 70 Spot 71 AGE 0.436 0.719 0.502 0.113 0.220 0.413 0.319 0.015 0.155 0.241 0.029 0.168 0.772 0.569 0.269 0.403 0.970 0.690 Spot 72 Spot 73 Spot 74 Spot 75 AGE 0.209 0.355 −0.076 0.342 0.589 0.348 0.845 0.368 The upper cell under the spot number is the correlation coefficient. The lower cell is the p-value.

For those proteins identified from 2D gel analyses which are available on the SOMAscan assay, measurements were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test on a cohort of 22 stroke patients, 32 stroke-mimicking patients, and 26 healthy patients (Table 6). Albumin and transferrin, two of the proteins found to have a statistical difference between ischemic and circulating blood, also had a statistical difference when comparing stroke and non-stroke groups (p=0.025 and p=0.026, respectively). Hemoglobin had an average percent change >300% between ischemic and circulating blood, but was not statistically significant between stroke and non-stroke groups (p=0.052). Haptoglobin was not statistically different between ischemic and circulating blood in the gel analysis but was statistically different in peripheral blood from stroke and non-stroke groups (p=0.012). Scatter plots for these proteins (FIGS. 7A-7F) show a large overlap in the range of measurements between the stroke, mimic, and healthy groups.

TABLE 6 Comparison of candidate biomarker proteins identified in the thrombectomy study between peripheral blood of stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patients from a different patient cohort. Mean ± SD Target p q H stroke mimics healthy Transferrin 0.026 0.114 7.3 246,331 ± 29,464 235,142 ± 36,141  258,726 ± 68,995  Albumin 0.025 0.110 7.4 20,004 ± 4,489 21,426 ± 5,995  240,010 ± 6,221  Hemoglobin 0.052 0.177 5.9 1,951 ± 981  1,760 ± 1,054 14,915 ± 69,609 Haptoglobin, 0.012 0.070 8.9  43,918 ± 19,961 40,685 ± 18,653 29,394 ± 14,701 Mixed Type Fibrinogen 0.062 0.199 5.6  80,420 ± 50,665 76,544 ± 43,988 53,642 ± 21,127 Fibrinogen 0.080 0.234 5.1 10,737 ± 7,515 9,597 ± 5,048 7,940 ± 2,519 g-chain dimer

The large patient-to-patient variability seen in the 2D-DIGE experiments may result from a number of factors. These include the heterogeneity of stroke and the diversity of patient characteristics in a small sample size. The correlation analysis supported a relationship between NUBS score and the abundance of 16 proteins, making these proteins potential biomarkers of stroke severity. There was no obvious relationship between protein abundance and tPA treatment or infarct location. Therefore, variability in protein abundances may be due to a patient clinical parameter that was not documented.

Some patients showed a large fold change in abundance for protein spots 46, 47, and 57 between their ischemic and circulating blood. These spots were identified as isoforms of hemoglobin, and their increased abundance in the ischemic blood may be indicative of low blood oxygen levels or hemolyzed blood samples. Although the average protein abundances of these protein spots for all nine patients were not statistically significant, the inclusion of these proteins in a stroke biomarker panel may still be useful. For example, a significant increase in hemoglobin in such a biomarker panel may be indicative of stroke.

Five protein spots had statistically significant differences in abundance between ischemic and circulating blood. Interestingly, these proteins were less abundant in the ischemic area. All of the identified proteins are common blood proteins—albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulin gamma. Since these proteins are not ‘brain-specific’, this could be indicative of systemic changes following or preceding stroke. The concept of a systemic manifestation has been demonstrated in previous stroke studies. Systemic inflammation is commonly associated with cerebrovascular disease, and an impaired glucose metabolism has also been linked to this disease

When the proteins identified as stroke biomarker candidates were measured in peripheral blood in a new cohort of patients, albumin, transferrin, and haptoglobin were found to be statistically significant between stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy groups. However, the scatter plots of these proteins were highly overlapping between the patient groups. This suggested the individual proteins would exhibit a low sensitivity and specificity for stroke diagnosis, and therefore would have little relevance in a clinical setting.

A portion of the transferrin protein in pooled serum samples was found to have a shift in molecular weight. The ischemic gel showed one spot of transferrin and the control gel showed the equivalent spot but also revealed a smaller second spot directly above it. Spots in both locations were identified as serotransferrin via a MASCOT database search, suggesting there was some change in post-translational modifications occurring in the protein due to the stroke. This shift in molecular weight could indicate a change in protein glycosylation, or the presence of a serotransferrin isoform.

Transferrin is secreted into the blood by the liver. Thus, it is expected to be present in the circulating blood. This protein has two isoforms: beta-1-transferrin is the isoform found in most body fluids while the de-sialated form beta-2-transferrin, also known as tau protein, is thought to be found only in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The defining modification of beta-2-transferrin is the removal of sialic acid by neuraminidase in the CSF. This modification allows the protein to be detected on a 1-dimensional gel as a distinct band above the beta-1 transferrin band. Because the beta-2 isoform normally is not found in the serum, the secondary higher-molecular-weight protein spot would not be expected to be transferrin; however more information is needed to confirm this. The lack of this protein in the ischemic blood was an interesting and unexpected finding that suggests the modification was removed (i.e., the sialic acid was added or the glycosylation was removed) in the ischemic condition. Because of the nature of a pooled experiment, it cannot be determined whether this protein was expressed in one, several, or all of the stroke patient's circulating blood. Referring back to the individual patients' 2D DIGE gels, the transferrin protein spot did appear to be divided in a few of the gels. However, due to over-saturated image intensity of the primary transferrin protein spot, the presence of this secondary transferrin spot in all patients' gels was inconclusive.

There were many differences between the proteins in ischemic and circulating serum. A high amount of variability was seen in the 2D DIGE gels of the patients. Nonetheless, albumin, transferrin, and immunoglobulin gamma protein spots were significantly higher in the circulating blood serum, and hemoglobin had a large fold change in abundance in the ischemic blood serum of a few patients. When the concentrations of these proteins were compared in peripheral blood in a different cohort of patients, the individual proteins did not appear to have much clinical utility as stroke biomarkers.

Example II

As described above blood from ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions was analyzed. Blood from the ischemic core of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy was compared to their own circulating arterial blood to determine if significant changes in protein abundance occurred in the ischemic area. A few blood proteins were identified with statistically different abundances in the ischemic blood sample, but when the concentrations of these proteins were compared in a new cohort of patients, the scatter plots of these proteins were highly overlapping between stroke and non-stroke patients. The proteins did not appear to have much clinical relevance as potential stroke biomarkers, and therefore the search for biomarker candidates continues.

According to another example, the venous blood of stroke patients was compared to that of healthy patients to find stroke-induced protein changes. The main goal was to determine which proteins were uniquely expressed, not expressed, or differentially expressed in the blood of stroke patients when compared to controls using two approaches.

In the first approach, 2D gel analysis was used to visualize overall differences in protein patterns between pooled serum from stroke patients and pooled serum from healthy patients. In short, equal amounts of serum proteins from five stroke patients in their sixth decade of life were pooled and separated via 2D gel electrophoresis, and the same was done for 5 healthy patients of the same age group. This experiment was then repeated with patients in their fifth decade of life. A survey of Get With The Guidelines Stroke database found that 24.9% of stroke victims are aged 70-79, 18.9% are aged 60-69, and 13.7% are aged 50-59. Thus, patients within the selected ages of 50-69 represent nearly a third of stroke victims. From the 22 stroke and 26 healthy samples, 5 patients from both stroke and healthy groups with similar age, sex, and race distributions were selected.

In the second approach, to identify lower-abundance blood proteins that are significantly different between the stroke and healthy groups (age-50 and age-60 cohorts combined), the measurements from the SOMAscan 1310-protein assay were analyzed using univariate analyses. Biomarker candidates identified by this screening process were then evaluated using protein measurements for all stroke and healthy patients (aged 38-90) and then evaluated using protein measurements for all stroke and stroke-mimicking patients (aged 26-90). See above for details on methodology.

To assess major differences in venous blood proteins between stroke patients and healthy patients, the 2D gel of pooled stroke serum proteins was compared to the 2D gel of pooled control serum proteins. When qualitatively comparing the 2D spot patterns between the two pooled samples for the aged-60 cohort, Spots 1, 3, 4, and 5 were unique to the normal gel, and Spots 6, 7, 8, and 9 were unique to the stroke gel (FIGS. 8A and 8B). When comparing the 2D spot patterns between the two pooled samples for the aged-50 cohort, only one protein spot was unique to the stroke gel (FIGS. 9A and 9B, arrow). This protein spot aligns with Spot 7 from the stroke gel for the aged-60 cohort. Of the other unique spots identified on the 2D gels from the aged-60 cohort, Spots 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 were not seen in the 2D gels of the aged-50 cohort. Only Spot 5 which was present in both the stroke and healthy gel. When comparing gels from the two age groups, there were some spots visible on the gels from the older cohort that were not visible on the gels from the younger cohort. For example, the lower left area of the age-60 gel showed four additional protein spots which were not seen on the age-50 gel (FIGS. 8A and 8B, box).

The protein identities of these spots were determined either by mass spectrometry (Spots 4, 9, 10, 14) or by referencing the SWISS 2D PAGE database human plasma master gel or literature. Additional spots were selected for identification to help spatially align with the 2D PAGE references (Table 7).

TABLE 7 Identifications for protein spots selected from stroke versus healthy comparison. Gel MW Method of Spot (kDa) pI Identificataion identification 1 >150 3-4  Ceruloplasmin 2D PAGE spot matching 2 25-37  5-5.75 Apolipoprotein J 2D PAGE spot matching 3 25-37 5.75-6   Apolipoprotein E 2D PAGE spot Transthyretin matching 4 20-37 5.75-6   Apolipoprotein MALDI-TOF MS A-I 5 10-15  5-5.75 Transthyretin 2D PAGE spot Haptoglobin matching 6 15-20 6-6.5 Haptoglobin 2D PAGE spot matching 7 10-15 6-6.5 Serum Amyloid 2D PAGE spot A protein matching 8 10-15 6-6.5 Serum Amyloid 2D PAGE spot A protein matching 9 10-15 5.75-6   Serum Amyloid MALDI-TOF MS A precursor protein 10 37-50 3-4  Alpha-1-acid MALDI-TOF MS glycoprotein 11 >150 6-6.5 Ig heavy chain 2D PAGE spot matching 12 100-200 6-6.5 Complement 2D PAGE spot factor B matching Plasminogen 13 50-75 6-6.5 Transferrin 2D PAGE spot Ig heavy chain matching 14 20-25 5.75-6   Apolipoprotein MALDI-TOF MS A-I 15 10-15 4.5-5.5  Apolipoproteins 2D PAGE spot C2, C3, A2 matching

Gel spots are annotated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. Spots 1,3,4,5 were unique to the gel from healthy patient serum while Spots 6, 7, 8, 9, were unique to the gel from stroke patient serum. Spot 7 was the only spot duplicated in both age cohorts. MW=molecular weight; pI=isoelectric point

According to the innovation, biomarker discovery efforts were continued by focusing on lower-abundance blood proteins that are significantly different between stroke and healthy groups (age-50 and age-60 cohorts, combined) using the measurements from the SOMAscan 1310-protein assay. Mann Whitney analyses revealed 195 proteins with p-values less than 0.05. Thirteen proteins were selected as biomarker candidates (Table 8) after the following selection process. To account for proteins with coincidental statistical differences between cohorts of the same population, data from the age-50 healthy cohort was compared to data from the age-60 healthy cohort, and data from the age-50 stroke cohort was compared to data from the age-60 stroke cohort. The proteins from these analyses that had a p-value less than 0.05 and that were also on the original list of 195 proteins were removed from the list of biomarker candidates. There were 19 proteins removed from the list because they were statistically different between the two healthy populations. An additional 7 proteins were removed from the list because they were statistically different between the two stroke populations.

TABLE 8 Thirteen biomarker candidates selected from SOMAscan analysis of stroke and healthy cohorts. Protein p-value BMP-14 1.08E−05 LKHA4 2.17E−05 Aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase 1.08E−05 C3b 1.08E−05 GDF2 1.08E−05 ERP29 1.08E−05 TYK2 1.08E−05 iC3b 4.33E−05 GSK-3 alpha/beta 0.000325 UB2G2 2.17E−05 C5 0.000487 M2-PK 0.000725 PPID 0.001505

Using the SomaLogic SOMAscan assay, serum proteins from 10 stroke patients (age range 50-66 years) were compared to that of 10 healthy patients (age range 51-68 years). Mann Whitney analyses resulted in 195 proteins with p<0.05, 13 of which were selected as potential biomarker candidates after removing proteins with age-dependent changes and population-dependent changes. Additionally, proteins that may show an age-dependent change with stroke were removed because a point-of-care diagnostic is likely to be utilized when a person's age is unknown. Therefore, the age-50 stroke cohort was compared to the age-50 healthy cohort and the age-60 stroke cohort was compared to the age-60 healthy cohort. Proteins that were significantly different between stroke and healthy patients in one of the age groups, but not the other, and that were included in the original list of 195 proteins, were taken off the list. There were 169 proteins removed due to suspected age dependence.

In addition to the 13 proteins identified by the SOMAscan assay, the protein identified from the 2D gel analysis as a possible stroke biomarker was included. This Spot 7 was tentatively identified as serum amyloid A protein (SAA). Using the SOMAscan assay data, serum levels of this protein were compared between stroke patients from the age-50+age-60 (combined) cohorts and corresponding controls (all patients described in Table 9) using the Mann Whitney U test.

TABLE 9 Patient characteristics for the Age-60 and Age-50 cohorts Age-60 Cohort Age-50 Cohort Stroke Stroke Patient# Age Sex Race NIHSS Patient# Age Sex Race NIHSS 15 64 F W 1 8 53 M W 3 18 64 F W 15 24 58 M B 7 23 66 F W 16 30 50 M B 12 34 63 M W n/a 45 59 M W 27 50 61 M W 2 54 54 M B 5 Healthy Healthy Patient# Age Sex Race Patient# Age Sex Race 5 61 M W n/a 17 54 M W n/a 7 62 M W n/a 18 58 M W n/a 8 67 M W n/a 23 55 M W n/a 9 68 F W n/a 25 51 M B n/a 14 60 F W n/a 26 58 M B n/a

A statistically significant difference was seen (p=0.0089) (Table 10 and FIG. 10), suggesting elevated levels of SAA is a potential biomarker of ischemic stroke. Interestingly, when the stroke and healthy groups from the age-60 cohort and age-50 cohort were separately compared, SAA was significantly different between stroke and healthy patients for the age-50 group, but not for the age-60 group. However, when analyzing the age-50 and age-60 cohorts together as one cohort, SAA was significantly different between stroke and healthy patients.

TABLE 10 Comparison of SAA levels in Stroke and Healthy age-50 and age-60 combined cohorts. Mean ± SD Stroke Age Healthy Age 50-66 51-68 Target p q U (n = 10) (n = 10) SAA 0.009 0.148 84 16812.1 ± 37043.3 1042.1 ± 906.0 Values are the mean ± SD RFU for each cohort. SAA = Serum Amyloid A; p = p-value; q = false discovery-rate adjusted p-value; U = test statistic for Mann Whitney U test.

Scatter plots for the remaining thirteen proteins and SAA are shown in FIGS. 11A-11N. For nearly every protein, the distribution of relative fluorescent units (RFU) for the stroke patients has minimal overlap with the RFU distribution for the healthy patients. Because of this, threshold values with resulting high diagnostic accuracy could easily be selected to distinguish stroke patients from healthy patients.

To validate these initial findings from the limited patient cohorts, these 14 biomarker candidates were then evaluated using SOMAscan measurements for all stroke and healthy patients (aged 38-90). Here, all stroke samples (n=22) were compared to all healthy samples (n=26) (Table 11). While the RFU distributions from the scatter plots are overlapping for many of the proteins, a few still show good separation, including C3b, GDF2, and UB2G2 (FIGS. 12A-12N).

TABLE 11 Patient characteristics for peripheral blood studies. Stroke Mimic TIA Healthy n = 22 n = 23 n = 9 n = 26 Age 65.4 55.8 64.4 60.9 (mean ± SD) (±15.3) (±15.5) (±15.4) (±8.7) Female (%) 45.5% 60.9% 33.3% 38.5% Caucasian (%) 77.3% 60.9% 77.8% 80.8%

In an actual clinical setting, physicians and other medical personnel can easily distinguish between a normal healthy person and someone who is unhealthy (i.e., exhibiting symptoms). Because of this, any biomarker candidate must be validated in a more realistic patient cohort. Therefore, all stroke patient samples (n=22) were compared to all stroke-mimicking patient samples (n=32) for the 14 biomarker candidates. Of the mimic group, 9 patients were diagnosed with TIA, 5 with migraine, 3 with seizure, and the remaining were a mix of symptoms with ambiguous etiologies. Scatter plots for the 14 biomarker candidates were used to compare the RFU distribution of all stroke patients to the RFU distribution of all stroke-mimicking patients (FIGS. 13A-13N). There was a large amount of overlap seen in RFU distributions between the two groups.

When comparing pooled serum from stroke patients to that of healthy patients using 2D gel electrophoresis, SAA was found only in the pooled stroke sample, suggesting it was a stroke-induced change. This protein is produced by the liver to transport cholesterol, but also acts as a chemoattractant for immune cells, and binds heparin which is a naturally occurring anticoagulant. SAA isoforms can be constitutively present in the blood or expressed acutely in response to inflammation. A previous study has shown that increased SAA levels differentiate atherothrombotic etiology from cardioembolic etiology in stroke patients. Atherosclerosis is a disease associated with chronic inflammation, suggesting that SAA levels were increased prior to rather than following a stroke event. SAA therefore may be a diagnostic biomarker candidate for ischemic stroke as well as an indicator of an underlying risk factor.

There were a number of differences in the 2D gels of stroke and healthy patients for the aged-60 cohort that were not seen in the aged-50 cohort. As each gel represented five patients, the differences seen between the two age groups might be due to varying patient characteristics (i.e., locations of the strokes). Alternatively, it may suggest age-related differences. Perhaps the protein response to stroke seen in the older cohort is in some way dampened in the younger stroke cohort. The 2D gels from the two healthy age groups also are qualitatively different. Almost all the low molecular weight apolipoproteins are missing from the younger age group (Spot 15, FIGS. 8A and 8B). Age is a known risk factor for stroke, and apolipoproteins—being associated with cholesterol formation—are also predictors of the disease. However, because these are pooled experiments, it cannot be determined if the changes between stroke and healthy seen in the age-60 cohort are from one patient or all patients. Follow up on individual samples may be needed.

Univariate analyses of the entire SOMAscan dataset revealed 195 other protein biomarker candidates. The overlap in serum protein concentrations for these two groups was minimal. However, when the same proteins were compared using stroke and stroke-mimicking patients, there was no longer a distinct threshold value for distinguishing a high sensitivity and specificity. The individual proteins did not appear to be clinically relevant biomarkers as they could not differentiate stroke patients from stroke-mimicking patients with high sensitivity or specificity. In some embodiments, finding a combination of these proteins that differentiates the two groups may also be employed.

Thirteen serum proteins were identified in ischemic stroke patients that may differentiate stroke from healthy patients. Unfortunately, these serum protein biomarker candidates do not appear to be clinically relevant when comparing stroke patients to stroke-mimicking patients.

Example III

As discussed above, proteins in peripheral blood from ischemic stroke patients and healthy individuals were compared. Several proteins were identified that differentiated these patient groups, but when the concentrations of these proteins were compared between stroke and stroke-mimicking patients, the individual proteins did not appear to have a clinically relevant sensitivity and specificity. A study was designed to compare stroke patients to stroke-mimicking patients as opposed to healthy individuals to develop a panel of stroke biomarker proteins to gain sufficient sensitivity and specificity for clinical application.

In this aim, the venous blood of stroke patients was compared to that of stroke-mimicking patients to find clinically relevant protein biomarker candidates. The main goal was to determine what proteins may be differentially expressed in the blood of stroke patients when compared to stroke-mimicking patients, and to find a combination of proteins that predicts ischemic stroke diagnosis.

Serum proteins found in ischemic stroke patients were evaluated in an attempt to identify proteins that can be used to differentiate stroke from stroke-mimicking patients using three approaches.

First, the SOMAscan assay data was used to evaluate previously identified stroke biomarkers from published literature. Second, to identify novel biomarker candidates, univariate analyses were used to identify individual proteins that were significantly different between stroke and stroke-mimicking groups. Third, a machine learning algorithm was employed to identify protein combinations that accurately classify stroke patients from other non-stroke groups. See above for details on methods.

Twenty-five biomarkers were identified from literature reviews (Table 12). Of these, 20 proteins were available for analysis on the SOMAscan assay. Several of these proteins were previously evaluated as components of biomarker panels (Table 1), and the remaining were chosen based on their specific expression to the brain (GFAP, NSE, 14-3-3 protein zeta/delta, dynactin 1, myokinase, cadherin-5, cdk5).

TABLE 12 Protein biomarker candidates previously published. Present on Protein Description UniProt ID Ref SOMAscan Assay Inflammatory/Apoptotic Mediators Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule Immunoglobulin, mediates adhesion of P19320 Lynch, 2004 Yes (VCAM) immune cells to endothelium Eotaxin (CCL11) Chemotaxis of eosinophils P51671 Sharma, 2014 Yes Caspase 3 (CASP3) Protease, involved in apoptosis P42574 Montaner, 2011 Yes sRAGE Receptor for glycosylated proteins; Q15109 Montaner, 2011 Yes Involved in vascular inflammation Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein Chemoattracts monocytes and basophils, P13500 Reynolds 2003 Yes (MCP-1, CCL2) implicated in atherosclerosis S100A12 Calcium-binding protein, proinflammatory P80511 Sharma, 2014 Yes Other Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) Proteolytic enzyme of the extracellular P14780 Montaner, 2011, Yes matrix Reynolds 2003 Laskowitz, 2009 Lynch, 2004 Vanni, 2011 Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) Cardiac hormone, released following P16860 Laskowitz, 2009 Yes cardiac stress Vanni, 2011 Secretogogin (SCGN) Calcium-binding protein, expressed in O76038 Montaner, 2011 No neuroendocrine cells Beta Nerve Growth Factor (bNGF) Nerve Growth factor, metalloprotease P01138 Reynolds 2003 Yes inhibitor Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Growth factor receptor, implicated in P00533 Sharma, 2014 Yes (ERBB1) reactive gliosis Metalloproteinase inhibitor-4 Irreversible inactivation of MMPs Q99727 Sharma, 2014 No Prolactin Hormone with role in platelet activation P01236 Sharma, 2014 Yes Central Nervous System Tissue Markers S100B Calcium binding protein, expressed in P04271 Reynolds 2003 No astroglial cells Laskowitz, 2009 Lynch, 2004 Vanni. 2011 Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Intermediate Filament Protein, expressed in P14136 Pieper, 2003 Yes (GFAP) astroglial cells Glushakova, 2016 Purrucker, 2014 Neuron-Specific Enolase (NSE) Neuronal glycolytic enzyme found mainly P09104 Glushakova, 2016 Yes in neurons Visinin-like Protein-1 (VLP1) Neuronal intracellular calcium sensor P62760 Glushakova, 2016 No Laterza,2006 Stejskal, 2011 14-3-3 zeta/delta Expressed in nerve terminals of neurons P63104 Pieper, 2003 Yes Dynactin 1 Vesicle transport protein, expressed Q14203 Pieper, 2003 Subunit 2 specifically in brain tissue Adenylate kinase isoenzyme 5 Enzyme involved in cell energy Q9Y6K8 Pieper, 2003 Isoenzyme 1 (AK5) homeostasis, expressed in brain tissue VanRompay, 1999 ((Myokinase) Vascular endothelial cadherin Cell-adhesion glycoprotein, expressed in P33151 Pieper, 2003 Yes (Cadherin-5) brain and endothelial tissue Cdk5/p35 Protein kinase involved in neuronal cell Q00535 Meyer, 2014 Yes cycle arrest and neuronal apoptosis Q15078 Chimerin Signal-transducing protein, expressed in P15882 Montaner, 2011 No neurons of the brain Coagulation/Thrombosis Markers vonWillebrand Factor (vWF) Glycoprotein involved in coagulation P04275 Reynolds 2003 Yes Lynch, 2004 D-dimer Breakdown product of fibrin blood clot P02671 Montaner, 2011 Yes P02675 Laskowitz, 2009 P02679 Vanni, 2011

Proteins were selected based on brain-tissue specificity or previous evaluation as a stroke biomarker. Of the 25 proteins, 20 were available to measure with the SOMAscan assay. Note: AK5 is not available on the assay, but an isoform (myokinase) was available and therefore used for testing.

Peripheral venous blood protein concentrations for stroke, stroke-mimicking, and healthy patient groups were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Of the 20 proteins tested, 10 proteins from literature had a p-value less than or equal to 0.05 (Table 13). With this omnibus test, it cannot be determined which patient group is different from the others. Therefore, the Mann Whitney U test was used to examine the clinically relevant comparison of the stroke patients versus the stroke-mimicking patients. The results showed that GFAP, b-NGF, and vWF were statistically significant (p=0.024 0.032, 0.017 respectively) (Table 14). When examining the scatter plots for these proteins, however, the distribution of the RFU measurements for each group overlaps, making a threshold value for calculating a clinically useful sensitivity and specificity hard to define (FIGS. 14A-14C).

TABLE 13 Comparison of previously-identified stroke biomarkers' protein concentrations between stroke, stoke mimicking, and healthy patients Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Target p q H (stroke) (mimic) (healthy) GFAP 0.038 0.146 6.5 2168 ± 3186  4408 ± 19128  846 ± 179 N-terminal pro-BNP 0.002 0.022 12.2  8755 ± 11476 10471 ± 23455  2401 ± 1213 BNP-32 0.592 0.781 1.0 671 ± 119 701 ± 198 682 ± 97 D-dimer 0.103 0.273 4.5 2587 ± 1677 2308 ± 988  1968 ± 361 Caspase-3 0.000 0.002 19.2 8551 ± 3046 9633 ± 5729  5349 ± 1708 MMP-9 0.264 0.492 2.7 841 ± 237 768 ± 388  783 ± 372 Eotaxin 0.205 0.423 3.2 1192 ± 280  1155 ± 397  1297 ± 500 CDK5/p35 0.008 0.053 9.7 1875 ± 525  1813 ± 253  1585 ± 291 NSE 0.000 0.000 51.7 850 ± 96  838 ± 123 1563 ± 298 14-3-3 protein 0.940 0.977 0.1 44390 ± 16274 44501 ± 19427  50468 ± 45467 zeta/delta Cadherin-5 0.212 0.431 3.1 11254 ± 2999  12720 ± 4352  12432 ± 3111 Dynactin subunit 2 0.000 0.001 20.9 2412 ± 219  2514 ± 387  2068 ± 341 Myokinase, human 0.003 0.026 11.8 28090 ± 16500 25962 ± 17567  14029 ± 11354 sRAGE 0.307 0.536 2.4 513 ± 303 522 ± 353  607 ± 312 b-NGF 0.050 0.177 6.0 1049 ± 263  909 ± 159 1157 ± 637 MCP-1 0.021 0.099 7.7 1096 ± 221  1143 ± 498  1334 ± 470 vWF 0.032 0.13 6.9 60655 ± 19470 49096 ± 22902  47764 ± 19638 VCAM-1 0.812 0.923 0.4 15145 ± 3896  18372 ± 12338 15798 ± 4846 ERBB1 0.959 0.985 0.1 31173 ± 4815  31582 ± 6195   33382 ± 10344 S100A12 0.092 0.258 4.8 3156 ± 774  2634 ± 1342 2117 ± 815 PRL (prolactin) 0.521 0.736 1.3 3892 ± 1200 3923 ± 1247 3516 ± 715

Kruskal-Wallis test statistic (H) was used to compare 22 stroke patients, 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic), and 26 healthy patients. Ten proteins were found statistically different between these three groups. P-value (p) less than or equal to 0.05 is considered statistically significant; q=false-discovery-rate corrected p-value. Units of measurement are relative fluorescent units (RFU). Protein abbreviations are in Table 12.

TABLE 14 Comparison of previously-identified stroke biomarkers' protein concentrations between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. Mean ± SD Mean ± SD Target p q U (stroke) (mimic) GFAP 0.024 0.994 224 2168 ± 3186  4408 ± 19128 N-terminal 0.299 0.994 293  8755 ± 11476 10471 ± 23455 pro-BNP BNP-32 0.771 0.994 368.5 671 ± 119 701 ± 198 D-dimer 0.597 0.994 322 2587 ± 1677 2308 ± 988  Caspase-3 0.738 0.994 333 8551 ± 3046 9633 ± 5729 MMP-9 0.135 0.994 267 841 ± 237 768 ± 388 Eotaxin 0.346 0.994 298.5 1192 ± 280  1155 ± 397  CDK5/p35 0.979 0.994 353.5 1875 ± 525  1813 ± 253  NSE 0.439 0.994 308 850 ± 96  838 ± 123 14-3-3 protein 0.725 0.994 332 44390 ± 16274 44501 ± 19427 Cadherin-5 0.172 0.994 429.5 11254 ± 2999  12720 ± 4352  Dynactin 0.384 0.994 401.5 2412 ± 219  2514 ± 387  subunit 2 Myokinase, 0.538 0.994 317 28090 ± 16500 25962 ± 17567 human sRAGE 0.86 0.994 342 513 ± 302 522 ± 353 b-NGF 0.032 0.994 230 1049 ± 263  909 ± 159 MCP-1 0.316 0.994 295 1096 ± 221  1143 ± 498  vWF 0.017 0.994 217 60655 ± 19470 49096 ± 22902 VCAM-1 0.738 0.994 333 15145 ± 3896  18372 ± 12338 ERBB1 0.944 0.994 356 31173 ± 4815  31582 ± 6195  S100A12 0.408 0.994 305 3156 ± 2511 2634 ± 1342 PRL 0.765 0.994 369 3892 ± 1200 3923 ± 1247

Mann Whitney U test statistic (U) was used to compare 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimic). Three proteins were statistically significant between these two groups. P-value (p) less than or equal to 0.05 is considered statistically significant; q=false-discovery-rate corrected p-value. Units of measurement are relative fluorescent units (RFU).

Biomarker discovery efforts were continued using 1310 protein measurements from the SOMAscan assay to compare the stroke and stroke-mimicking groups. Mann Whitney U tests resulted in 27 proteins with p-value less than or equal to 0.05 (Table 15). There was once again a large amount of overlap in the RFU measurements of individual proteins between these two groups, making a useful threshold value to distinguish stroke patients from stroke-mimicking patients with a clinically useful sensitivity and specificity difficult to define (FIGS. 15A-15F, 16A-16G, 17A-17G, and 18A-18G).

TABLE 15 Significantly different proteins found between stroke and stoke mimicking patients. mean ± SD mean ± SD Target p q U (stroke) (mimic) SEPR 0.003 0.994 522 1053 ± 222 1288 ± 321 Dtk 0.003 0.994 520 962 ± 88 1147 ± 565 TGM3 0.004 0.994 190  3001 ± 6670  797 ± 1754 a2-HS- 0.008 0.994 503 1959 ± 266 2153 ± 293 Glycoprotein Coagulation 0.016 0.994 215 11597 ± 2520 10134 ± 2201 Factor V vWF 0.017 0.994 217  60655 ± 19470  49096 ± 22902 C9 0.023 0.994 223 103367 ± 20402  90789± 18573 LKHA4 0.023 0.994 223 13573 ± 4346  12490 ± 10691 GFAP 0.024 0.994 224  2168 ± 3186   4408± 19128 MRC2 0.027 0.994 478  3830 ± 1243  4680 ± 1951 GNS 0.028 0.994 477 4147 ± 713  4749 ± 1400 TCCR 0.028 0.994 477 1582 ± 189 1826 ± 448 Growth 0.030 0.994 475 1237 ± 449 1513 ± 407 hormone receptor b-NGF 0.032 0.994 230 1049 ± 263  909 ± 159 MK11 0.032 0.994 474  954 ± 124 1262 ± 910 TECK 0.035 0.994 472  2289 ± 1380  3297 ± 1980 NKp30 0.035 0.994 472 648 ± 77  770 ± 238 DSC3 0.036 0.994 471  692 ± 128  835 ± 379 dopa 0.037 0.994 471 241 ± 40 270 ± 70 decarbox- ylase PlGF 0.038 0.994 234  748 ± 176  740 ± 345 RET 0.043 0.994 467  2180 ± 2678 1970 ± 629 CK-BB 0.044 0.994 238 1305 ± 471 1190 ± 468 BCL2-like 0.045 0.994 466 1191 ± 102 1295 ± 178 1 protein DC-SIGN 0.045 0.994 466 2252 ± 642 2476 ± 542 ITI heavy 0.045 0.994 238 38815 ± 9113 35345 ± 8739 chain H4 HAI-1 0.047 0.994 465  6098 ± 1525  7503 ± 2642 Carbonic 0.049 0.994 464  5149 ± 2773  8351 ± 7497 anhydrase 6

Mann Whitney U tests were used to compare 22 stroke patients and 32 stroke-mimicking patients (mimics). Twenty-seven proteins were significantly different between these two groups. P-value (p) less than or equal to 0.05 is considered statistically significant; q=false-discovery-rate corrected p-value; U=Mann Whitney test statistic. Units of measurement are relative fluorescent units (RFU).

The lack of clinical utility from individual proteins found through univariate analyses led to an appropriate combination of proteins which could comprise a panel of stroke biomarkers. Random Forest Analysis (RFA), a machine learning algorithm, was employed to help select and evaluate proteins from the 1310-protein assay.

To test RFA's ability to select proteins that will correctly classify patients by diagnosis, a tree first was created to distinguish the healthy individuals from all other patients (stroke and stroke-mimicking). RFA selected the best predictors which were then used to generate a single decision tree. GAPDH alone was found to be an efficient biomarker (FIG. 19). The classification table shows that GAPDH correctly classified 100 percent of the patients as healthy individuals or non-healthy individuals, with healthy individuals having a GAPDH measurement less than 8005 RFU (Table 16).

TABLE 16 Classification table for Healthy vs Not Healthy decision tree. Test Results Healthy Not Healthy Healthy Patients 26 0 Unhealthy Patients 0 54

Eighty patients were tested using the RFA-generated decision tree to differentiate healthy patients from patients with stroke-like symptoms. GAPDH correctly classified 100% of the patients, giving both a sensitivity and specificity equal to 100%.

RFA then was employed to classify stroke and stroke-mimicking patients. This yielded three proteins selected to define a decision tree: GDF-11, Dtk, and TGM3 (FIG. 20). Of the 22 stroke patients, 21 were correctly classified as stroke, and of the 32 stroke-mimicking patients, 28 were correctly classified as mimics. The panel demonstrated a 95.5% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity (Table 17). The positive likelihood ratio (LR+) was 7.6 and the negative likelihood ratio (LR−) was 0.05.

In the previous analysis, the stroke-mimicking group included patients diagnosed with TIA. TIA patients are very similar to and difficult to distinguish from stroke patients because they exhibit very similar symptoms due to shared pathologies; however, TIA is self-resolving and does not result in the tissue infarction that characterizes stroke pathology. TIA may therefore be better categorized as a separate diagnosis group from both stroke groups and stroke-mimicking groups. When stroke, stroke-mimicking, and TIA patients were analyzed as separate groups by RFA, three proteins were selected as effective discriminators of these patients and were used to generate a decision tree for a biomarker panel: ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin, and Coagulation Factor V (FIG. 21. When evaluated by this decision tree, 17 of 22 stroke patients were correctly classified as stroke, and 29 of 32 non-stroke patients were correctly classified as either stroke-mimicking or TIA. The panel demonstrated a 77.2% sensitivity and 90% specificity (LR+=7.7 and LR−=0.25) for identifying stroke patients (Table 18). Interestingly, 23 of the 23 non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients were correctly classified as such, giving a 100% sensitivity for a non-stroke, non-TIA diagnosis.

TABLE 17 Classification table for Stroke vs Mimic decision tree. Test Results Stroke Mimic Stroke Patients 21 1 Mimic Patients 4 28

Fifty-four patients were tested using the RFA-generated decision tree to differentiate stroke patients from stroke-mimicking patients (Mimic). GDF-11, Dtk, and TGM3 proteins correctly classified 21 of 22 stroke patients and 28 of 32 stroke mimicking patients, giving a 95.5% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity for stroke diagnosis.

TABLE 18 Classification table for Stroke vs Mimic vs TIA decision tree. Test Results Stroke Mimic TIA Stroke Patients 17 4 1 Mimic Patients 0 23 0 TIA Patients 3 2 4

Fifty-four patients were tested using the RFA-generated decision tree to differentiate stroke patients from non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients (Mimic) and TIA patients. ENPP7, TBG, and Coag Factor V proteins correctly classified 17 of 22 stroke patients, 23 of 23 non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients, and 4 of 9 TIA patients. For stroke diagnosis, this gives a 77.2% sensitivity and 90% specificity. For non-TIA non-stroke diagnosis, the sensitivity is 100% and the specificity is 81%.

When comparing just the stroke and TIA patients, RFA selected two proteins for a biomarker panel: contactin-1 and TRY3 (FIG. 22). When patients were evaluated by this decision tree, 22 of 22 stroke patients were correctly classified as stroke and 7 of 9 TIA patients were correctly classified as TIA, giving a 100% sensitivity and 77.8% specificity (LR+=4.5 and LR−=0) for stroke diagnosis (Table 19).

TABLE19 Classification table for Stroke vs TIA decision tree. Test Results Stroke TIA Stroke Patients 22 0 TIA Patients 2 7

Thirty-one patients were tested using the RFA-generated decision tree to differentiate stroke patients from TIA patients. Contactin 1 and TRY3 proteins correctly classified all 22 stroke patients and 7 of 9 TIA patients. For stroke diagnosis, this gives a 100% sensitivity and 78% specificity.

Of the 19 previously-identified biomarkers from published literature, GFAP, b-NGF, and vWF were found to be statistically different between the stroke and stroke-mimicking groups; however, the scatter plots suggested a sensitivity and specificity of low clinical value. This result agrees with those found in the published literature, as no single protein has been deemed sufficient for stroke diagnosis to date. For example, vWF has been demonstrated to have a 66% sensitivity and 73.8% specificity. Likewise, GFAP was demonstrated to have a c-statistic of 0.556, little better than random chance at predicting stroke diagnosis (0.50), when compared with patients presenting with vertigo.

Univariate analyses for new biomarker candidates identified 27 proteins with statistical differences between stroke and mimicking patients. However, it is unlikely that these proteins—individually—would make valuable biomarkers, as the large overlap seen in the serum measurements would lead to sensitivity and specificity values that are clinically unacceptable. Indeed, it has been previously stated that while identifying a single biomarker would be ideal, this outcome is also improbable due to the diversity of stroke pathophysiology. Therefore, developing a biomarker panel is a more realistic goal than finding the “troponin of stroke”.

A random forest analysis found 3 combinations of proteins that do well to differentiate stroke from non-TIA stroke mimicking patients and TIA patients. The first panel separated stroke from the combined mimics and TIA with relatively high diagnostic accuracy. The proteins GDF-11, Dtk, and TGM3 correctly classified 21 of 22 stroke patients. Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF-11) is an extracellular protein that functions as a growth factor and a cytokine. Serum levels of this protein have been shown to decrease with age in animal models. Furthermore, increased levels are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular events in human. Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (Dtk or TYRO3) is a cell membrane protein involved in signal transduction. It is found abundantly in the brain and plays a role in neuron protection following excitotoxic injury. Studies have shown it mediates vasculoprotection via Protein S and is associated with a decreased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. Transglutaminase E (TGM3) is an enzyme that helps form cross-links between glutamine and lysine residues in proteins. This protein has not been previously associated with stroke or cardiovascular disease.

The second panel classified stroke from mimics and TIA separately. The proteins ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin, and Coagulation Factor V correctly classified all mimics, and 17 of the 22 strokes. Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 7 (ENPP7) is an enzyme that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide. It has been associated with human carotid plaques, and gene expression was found to be significantly different between asymptomatic donors versus donors with a recent stroke. Throxine Binding Globulin (TBG or SERPIN A7) is a serum protein expressed by the liver. Its role is to transport thyroid hormones. Although TBG has not been directly implicated in stroke, thyroid disorders have been associated with increased risk of stroke. The stroke and TIA patients in this study had higher averaged serum levels of TBG than other non-stroke patients. Perhaps, then, this protein is a risk factor. Coagulation Factor V is involved in blood coagulation, acting as an important cofactor for the activation of prothrombin to thrombin. A genetic variant, Factor V Leiden, was found to be associated with ischemic stroke, but it is unknown whether the patients in this study carried this marker.

The third panel of protein biomarkers classified stroke from TIA patients. The proteins contactin-1 and TRY3 correctly classified all 22 stroke patients and 7 of the 9 TIA patients. Contactin-1 (also known as glycoprotein gp135 or neural cell surface protein F3) is a plasma membrane protein expressed in the brain and other tissues. It aids in the signaling between axons and myelinating glial cells and is important during nervous system development. No literature could be found that associates this protein with ischemic stroke or TIA. Trypsin 3 (TRY3), also known as brain trypsinogen is an extracellular serine protease expressed in the pancreas and the brain. Its main function is the degradation of trypsin inhibitors, but it is also involved in endothelial cell migration, neutrophil degranulation, and zymogen activation. This protein has not been previously associated with stroke or cardiovascular disease.

Proteins from any one panel were not repeated in the other panels. The panel that includes TIA patients in the stroke-mimicking group (FIG. 20) and the panel that separates TIA from non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients (FIG. 21) do not have any proteins in common despite being compared to the same stroke patient group. This could be because there are physiological differences between stroke-mimicking and TIA patients and/or pathophysiological similarities between stroke and TIA patients. Ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral artery is blocked, causing a loss of blood supply and ultimately infarction. During a TIA, there is a temporary disruption of blood flow, but this does not cause an infarction. The etiologies of the non-TIA stroke-mimicking group are diverse and include migraine, seizure, dementia, and metabolic disorders. While the symptoms are very similar, the pathologies may not be. For example, migraine is thought to be associated with cortical spreading depressing and inflammation of the dura mater.

The results suggest that when stroke-mimicking and TIA patients are treated as a combined group or divided into separate groups, different proteins are necessary to correctly classify them from stroke.

The diagnostic accuracies of the protein panels were on par with published stroke biomarker panels. Sensitivities from published studies ranged from 17% to 92% and specificities ranged from 37% to 98% (Table 1). The stroke vs mimic panel according to an embodiment of the innovation had a 95.5% sensitivity, which improves upon these biomarker panels. The panel with the highest diagnostic accuracy included BNGF, MCP-1, MMP-9, S100B, and vWF and demonstrated a 92% sensitivity when comparing stroke to healthy controls. Another panel had a very low sensitivity but a very high specificity. This panel included Caspase-3, Chimerin, D-dimer, MMP-9, Secretagogin, and sRAGE and demonstrated a 98% specificity when comparing stroke to mimic patients. While the present panels far outweighed the 17% sensitivity, they did not improve upon this specificity.

The finding that the present panel achieved a high sensitivity and specificity speaks to the viability of panels over individual biomarkers. Consideration of the univariate analysis results for the proteins from the first panel, the proteins Dtk, GDF-11, and TGM3 had a p-value of 0.0031, 0.4923, and 0.0043, respectively. While Dtk and TGM3 were in the top three results, GDF-11 was not statistically different between the stroke and stroke mimicking groups. Nonetheless it was considered a strong predictor for stroke diagnosis using random forest analysis.

A number of proteins were found that were significantly different between stroke and stroke-mimicking patient groups; however, no protein was identified as a promising single diagnostic biomarker. Random Forest Analysis may have identified a clinically useful combination of proteins to distinguish stroke patients from non-TIA stroke-mimicking patients and TIA patients.

Throughout the specification, proteins have been described by name, by abbreviation, or both. Table 20 (below) provides the protein name for the protein abbreviation used in the specification. It is to be understood that Applicant is not asserting that this list includes all proteins identified herein. In addition, it is noted that some proteins may be referred to by more than one name in the scientific literature and the use of one name over does not impact the identifiability of the protein. The proteins included herein are known in the art and are identifiable by either the protein abbreviation or the protein name regardless of whether the protein appears in Table 20.

TABLE 20 Partial list of corresponding protein abbreviations and protein names PROTEIN ABBREVIATION PROTEIN NAME Activin A Inhibin beta A chain Activin AB Inhibin beta A chain/B chain heterodimer AMNLS Protein amnionless/Amnion Associated Trans- membrane Protein AMPK 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase catalytic subunit a1b1g1 alpha-1 AMPM2 Methionine aminopeptidase 2 BMP-14 Growth/differentiation factor 5 (Bone morpho- genetic protein 14) BMX cytoplasmic tyrosine-protein kinase BMX b-NGF beta-nerve growth factor C3b Complement clevage product C3 C5 Complement component C5 C9 Complement component C9 CAMK2B Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II subunit beta CAMK2D Calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase type II subunit delta CD70 CD70 antigen CDK5/p35 Cyclin-dependent-like kinase 5/Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activator 1 cIAP-2 Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 3 (Cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 2) CK-BB Creatine kinase B-type CLC7A C-Type Lectin Domain Containing 7A CLF-1/CLC Cytokin receptor-like factor 1/Cardiotrophin-like Complex cytokine factor 1 Complex COLEC12 Collectin-12 CRK adapter molecule crk DC-SIGN CD209 antigen (Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin 1 DSC3 Desmocollin-3 Dtk Tyrosine-protein kinase receptor TYRO3 eIF-5 Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5 ENPP7 Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 7 EPHA3 Ephrin type-A receptor 3 ER Estrogen receptor ERP29 Endoplasmic reticulum resident protein 29 FABPL Fatty acid-binding protein, liver FGF23 Fibroblast growth factor 23 FGFR-2 Fibroblast-growth factor receptor 2 Fibrinogen Fibrinogen gamma chain g-chain dimer GAPDH Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase GDF.11 Growth differentiation factor 11 GDF2 Growth/differentiation factor 2 GFAP Glial fibrillary acidic protein GNS N-acetylglucosamine-6-sulfatase GSK-3 Glycogen synthase kinase-3 alpha/beta alpha/beta H31 Histone H3.1 HAI-1 Kunitz-type protease inhibitor 1 (Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor type 1) HB-EGF Proheparin-binding EGF-like growth factor HGH Human growth hormone (somatotropin) hnRNP K Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K HTRA2 Serine protease HTRA2, mitochondrial (High temperature requirement protein A2) iC3b (inactivated C3b) IL-17 Interleukin-17 IL-18 BPa Interleukin-18-binding protein IL-1F8 Interleukin-36 beta IL-7 Ra Interleukin-7 receptor subunit alpha KI2L4 Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL4 KI3L2 Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL2 KLRF1 Killer cell lectin-like receptor subfamily F member 1 KYNU Kynureninase LKHA4 Leukotriene A-4 hydrolase LRRT1 Leucine-rich repeat transmembrane neuronal protein-1 M2-PK Pyruvate kinase isosnzyme PKM MCP-1 C-C motif chemokine 2 MK11 Mitogen-activated protein kinase 11 MMP-1 Interstitial collagenase (Matrix metalloproteinase- 1) MMP-13 Collagenase 3 precursor/Matrix metalloproteinase- 13 MMP-17 Matrix metalloproteinase-17 MMP-7 Matrilysin/matrix metalloproteinase-7 MO2R1 Cell surface glycoprotein CD200 receptor 1 MRC2 C-type mannose receptor 2 NANOG Homeobox protein NANOG NKp30 Natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3 NR1D1 Nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 NSE Gamma-enolase (Neuron-specific enolase) NSF1C NSFL1 cofactor p47 N-terminal (Natriuretic peptides B) pro-BNP OAS1 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthase 1 PDGFRA Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha PIGF Phosphatidylinositol-glycan biosynthesis class F protein PPID Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase D prostatic Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 binding protein PSME3 Proteasome activator complex subunit 3 RANTES (cleaved C-C motif chemokine 5) RASA1 Ras GTPase-activating protein 1 RET Proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor Ret SEPR Prolyl endopeptidase FAP (Seprase) SHP-2 Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 11 sICAM-5 soluble Intercellular adhesion molecule 5 Spot 44 Haptoglobin SREC-II Scavenger receptor class F member 2 tau Microtubule-associated protein tau TCCR Type I T-cell cytokine receptor OR Interleukin-27 receptor subunit alpha TECK C-C motif chemokine 25 TFPI Tissue factor pathway inhibitor TGF-b3 Transforming growth factor beta-3 TGM3 Protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase E (Transglutaminase-3) TRY3 Trypsin-3 TYK2 Non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase TYK2 UB2G2 Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 G2 Ubiquitin + 1 Ubiquitin + 1, truncated mutation for UbB UFC1 Ubiquitin-fold modifier-conjugating enzyme 1 VEGF sR2 Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 VEGF sR3 Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 vWF von Willebrand factor WNT7A Protein Wnt-7a

What has been described above includes examples of the innovation. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the subject innovation, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the innovation are possible. Accordingly, the innovation is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of differentiating a patient suffering from a stroke or the symptoms of a stroke from one or both of (i) a patient suffering from a non-stroke with stroke-like symptoms, and (ii) a patient suffering from a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or the symptoms of a TIA, the method of differentiating comprising: a. obtaining a sample of blood from the patient; b. detecting whether the blood includes at least one protein biomarker, wherein the presence of the protein biomarker indicates whether the patient is suffering from a stroke or from a non-stroke condition that presents with the symptoms of a stroke.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the blood sample is venous blood.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the protein biomarker is selected from one or a combination of immunioassay, protein microarray, western blotting, mass spectroscopy, and flow-cytometry analytics.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein detecting includes contacting the sample of blood or an isolate from the sample of blood with at least one antibody that is specific for each of the at least one protein biomarker.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting for at least two biomarkers.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protein biomarker is selected from the group consisting of Activin A, Activin AB, AMNLS, AMPK a1b1g1, AMPM2, BMP-14, BMX, b-NGF, C3b, C5, C9, CAMK2B, CAMK2D, CD70, CDK5/p35, cIAP-2, CK-BB, CLC7A, CLF-1/CLC Complex, COLEC12, CRK, DC-SIGN, DSC3, Dtk, eIF-5, ENPP7, EPHA3, ER, ERP29, FABPL, FGF23, FGFR-2, Fibrinogen g-chain dimer, GAPDH, GDF.11, GDF2, GFAP, GNS, GSK-3 alpha/beta, H31, HAI-1, HB-EGF, HGH, hnRNP K, HTRA2, iC3b, IL-17, IL-18 BPa, IL-1F8, IL-7 Ra, KI2L4, KI3L2, KLRF1, KYNU, LKHA4, LRRT1, M2-PK, MCP-1, MK11, MMP-1, MMP-13, MMP-17, MMP-7, MO2R1, MRC2, NANOG, NKp30, NR1D1, NSE, NSF1C, N-terminal pro-BNP, OAS1, PDGFRA, PIGF, PPID, prostatic binding protein, PSME3, RANTES, RASA1, RET, SEPR, SHP-2, sICAM-5, Spot 44, SREC-II, tau, TCCR, TECK, TFPI, TGF-b3, TGM3, TRY3, TYK2, UB2G2, Ubiquitin+1, UFC1, VEGF sR2, VEGF sR3, vWF, WNT7A, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), Coagulation Factor V, contactin-1, and combinations of these.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one protein biomarker is selected from the group consisting of GDF-11, Dtk, TGM3, ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), Coagulation Factor V, contactin-1, TRY3, and combinations of these.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one protein biomarker comprises at least two biomarkers selected from the group consisting of GDF-11, Dtk, TGM3, ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), Coagulation Factor V, contactin-1, and TRY3.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting whether the blood includes biomarkers GDF-11, Dtk, and TGM3, and wherein the detected levels of each of the biomarkers is indicative of the patient suffering from one of a stroke, a TIA and a non-stroke with stroke-like symptoms.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting whether the blood includes biomarkers ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), and Coagulation Factor V, and wherein the detected levels of each of the biomarkers is indicative of the patient suffering from one of a non-stroke with stroke-like symptoms and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or the symptoms of a TIA.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein detecting includes detecting whether the blood includes biomarkers contactin-1, and TRY3, and wherein the detected levels of each of the biomarkers is indicative of the patient suffering from one of a stroke and a TIA.
 12. A method for diagnosing stroke in a patient, the method comprising: a. obtaining a sample of blood from the patient; b. detecting whether the blood includes at least one protein biomarker selected from the group consisting of GDF-11, Dtk, TGM3, ENPP7, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), Coagulation Factor V, contactin-1, TRY3, and combinations of these, wherein the presence of the protein biomarkers selected from one of (i) GDF-11, (ii) GDF-11 and TGM3, (iii) ENPP7 and Coagulation Factor V, (iv)ENPP7 and TBG, (v) ENPP7, TBG, and Coagulation Factor V, (vi) and contactin 1 and TRY3 indicates that the patient is suffering from a stroke.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the blood sample is venous blood.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein detecting the protein biomarker is selected from one or a combination of immunoassay, protein microarray, western blotting, mass spectroscopy, and flow-cytometry.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting includes contacting the sample of blood or an isolate from the sample of blood with at least one antibody that is specific for each of the at least one protein biomarker.
 16. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of detecting whether the blood includes at least one additional protein biomarker selected from the group consisting of Activin A, Activin AB, AMNLS, AMPK a1b1g1, AMPM2, BMP-14, BMX, b-NGF, C3b, C5, C9, CAMK2B, CAMK2D, CD70, CDK5/p35, cIAP-2, CK-BB, CLC7A, CLF-1/CLC Complex, COLEC12, CRK, DC-SIGN, DSC3, Dtk, eIF-5, ENPP7, EPHA3, ER, ERP29, FABPL, FGF23, FGFR-2, Fibrinogen g-chain dimer, GAPDH, GDF.11, GDF2, GFAP, GNS, GSK-3 alpha/beta, H31, HAI-1, HB-EGF, HGH, hnRNP K, HTRA2, iC3b, IL-17, IL-18 BPa, IL-1F8, IL-7 Ra, KI2L4, KI3L2, KLRF1, KYNU, LKHA4, LRRT1, M2-PK, MCP-1, MK11, MMP-1, MMP-13, MMP-17, MMP-7, MO2R1, MRC2, NANOG, NKp30, NR1D1, NSE, NSF1C, N-terminal pro-BNP, OAS1, PDGFRA, PIGF, PPID, prostatic binding protein, PSME3, RANTES, RASA1, RET, SEPR, SHP-2, sICAM-5, Spot 44, SREC-II, tau, TCCR, TECK, TFPI, TGF-b3, TGM3, TRY3, TYK2, UB2G2, Ubiquitin+1, UFC1, VEGF sR2, VEGF sR3, vWF, WNT7A, Thyroxine Binding Globulin (TGB), Coagulation Factor V, contactin-1, and combinations of these.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the patient presents with the symptoms of a TIA.
 18. A device for testing for the presence of a biomarker to diagnose stroke according to the method of claim
 1. 19. A device for testing for the presence of a biomarker to diagnose stroke according to the method of claim
 12. 